True Shutdown Fairness Act
Sponsored By: Representative Walkinshaw
Introduced
Summary
Guarantee pay for federal and contract workers during FY2026 funding gaps. This bill would let agency heads draw Treasury funds to keep "standard employee compensation" flowing to covered federal employees and to reimburse contractors so contract workers receive their usual pay, allowances, and benefits during any lapse in FY2026 appropriations.
Show full summary
- Covered federal employees would receive their normal pay and benefits during an FY2026 lapse. If a lapse is already happening when the law is enacted, agencies must provide compensation as soon as practicable and no later than 7 days after enactment.
- Contract workers whose duties are suspended, reduced, or halted would be covered. Agencies must adjust contract prices to reimburse contractors for reasonable costs and contractors must document those costs for agency review.
- Funds from the Treasury would be limited to these payments and later charged to the proper appropriations. The bill also bars agencies from proposing or carrying out reductions in force and from placing employees on administrative leave for more than 10 workdays in a year during a lapse.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Keep federal paychecks flowing
If enacted, the government would provide agencies money so covered federal employees still get their normal pay during any FY2026 funding lapse. "Covered employees" would include agency employees (and some military members on duty) who were in place or had accepted offers before a lapse that runs Oct 1, 2025 through Sept 30, 2026. Agencies would only be able to use this money to pay normal wages, allowances, differentials, and benefits, and not for other purposes. If a lapse is already happening when the bill is enacted, agencies would have to pay covered employees as soon as practicable and no later than 7 days after enactment; after enactment, pay would follow regular pay dates.
Limit layoffs and long leave during lapses
If enacted, during any FY2026 funding lapse agencies could not propose or carry out permanent reductions in force or similar cuts to their workforce. Agencies also could not place an employee on administrative leave for more than 10 work days in a calendar year because of a lapse. This does not stop voluntary separation payments under current law.
Reimburse contractors for worker pay
If enacted, agencies would have to adjust contract prices to reimburse contractors for reasonable costs of paying contract employees during any FY2026 lapse. Reasonable costs would include pay for furloughed or laid-off contract workers, pay for reduced hours or reduced compensation, and costs to restore paid leave if the contractor required or allowed leave because of the lapse. Contractors would need to provide evidence of those costs, and agencies must make adjustments even if the contract normally forbids such changes.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Walkinshaw
VA • D
Cosponsors
Beyer
VA • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Raskin
MD • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Subramanyam
VA • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Mfume
MD • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Landsman
OH • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
McClain Delaney
MD • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Goldman (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Panetta
CA • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Schneider
IL • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Matsui
CA • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Lynch
MA • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Ivey
MD • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
DeSaulnier
CA • D
Sponsored 2/17/2026
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 2/17/2026
Carter (LA)
LA • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Neguse
CO • D
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Morrison
MN • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Moore (WI)
WI • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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