# 119-s-3165: True Shutdown Fairness Act

119-s-3165, True Shutdown Fairness Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3165
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3165
- Congress: 119
- Title: True Shutdown Fairness Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-11-07
- Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Ensures pay continuity for federal employees during an appropriations lapse.** This bill would appropriate funds for fiscal year 2026 to keep pay, allowances, benefits, and certain pay differentials flowing for defined "covered individuals" if a lapse in appropriations begins on October 1, 2025. - Federal employees and service members: Would provide funding so covered federal employees, armed forces on active duty, and reserve components performing service continue to receive pay, allowances, and benefits during the covered lapse. - Contractors and contract employees: Would authorize price adjustments so contractors can be reimbursed for reasonable costs from the lapse, including maintaining compensation for furloughed or non-working contractor staff and restoring paid leave, with contractors required to show evidence after agency consultation with the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. - Agency operations and limits: Would make appropriated funds available until a defined "termination date" tied to later appropriations, and would limit reductions in force and excessive administrative leave while preserving voluntary separation payments under 5 U.S.C. 3523.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-11-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-11-18T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Keep pay and benefits flowing: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would appropriate funds starting October 1, 2025 for FY2026 to pay covered workers. Agencies would get “such sums as are necessary.” Covered individuals include federal employees, contract staff, active duty members, and reservists on duty. The funds and authority would be avai…
- Protect jobs and limit long leave: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would bar agencies from proposing or carrying out permanent job cuts during a covered lapse. It would also stop agencies from placing an employee on administrative leave for more than 10 work days in a calendar year while the lapse lasts. The bill would still allow voluntary se…
- Contractor payback for shutdown costs: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would require agency heads to adjust contract prices when contractors stopped or delayed work because of the lapse. Agencies would reimburse reasonable costs actually incurred. Reimbursable costs include standard pay for furloughed or nonworking contractor employees, lower-hour…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act
- 119-s-4504: Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2026
- 119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act
- 119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-s-3165 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3165)

## Related
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [119-s-4504: Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4504)
- [119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2763)
- [119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3869)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3165 (as of 2026-04-21).