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119-s-3039119th CongressWALLET

True Shutdown Fairness Act

Sponsored By: Senator Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]

Introduced

Summary

The Hook

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The True Shutdown Fairness Act would create a temporary funding mechanism to ensure continuation of pay and benefits during a lapse in appropriations for fiscal year 2026. It targets a lapse beginning October 1, 2025, and ties funding to a defined termination date.

The Impact

  • Federal employees: Covered employees would continue to receive standard pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other regularly payable payments. The bill treats those payments as effective retroactive to September 30, 2025.
  • Contractors and service members: Contractors who support covered employees, active-duty members of the Armed Forces, and reserve members on active service or inactive-duty training would be included as covered individuals eligible for payments during the lapse.
  • Agencies and workforce rules: Agencies must charge expenditures to the applicable appropriation once Congress enacts it. The bill would bar proposals or implementation of reductions in force during the lapse and limit administrative leave to 10 workdays in a calendar year.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Pay and benefits during a shutdown

If enacted, agencies with a lapse starting October 1, 2025 would be allowed to pay covered individuals their regular pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other routine payments. "Covered individuals" would include every agency employee, contractors who support those employees, active duty members, and reservists who serve or train during the lapse. The bill would appropriate whatever sums are needed from the Treasury for fiscal year 2026 and make those funds available until the lapse ends on the statute's defined termination date. Section 2 would be treated as if it took effect on September 30, 2025. Any spending made under this authority would later be charged to the applicable appropriation when Congress enacts it.

Ban on federal layoffs, leave limits

If enacted, during the covered lapse starting October 1, 2025 agencies could not use funds to propose or carry out a reduction in force or similar permanent staff cuts. Agencies also could not place any agency employee in administrative leave for more than 10 work days in any calendar year while the lapse continues. The bill would not stop voluntary separation payments allowed under current law (5 U.S.C. 3523).

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]

MD • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]

    VT • I

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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