Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Lankford, James [R-OK]
In Committee
Summary
Automatic continuing appropriations that would keep federal programs running at prior funding rates when Congress fails to pass full-year appropriations. The bill also tightens rules for official travel and narrows what Congress may do during those lapse periods.
Show full summary
- Families and benefit recipients: Entitlement payments and nutrition programs, including activities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, would continue at the rates needed to maintain current program levels during funding gaps.
- Federal officers and employees: Covered officers face limits on official travel during a covered period, with narrow exceptions for return trips to the seat of Government, travel within the National Capital Region, and national security needs. The use of campaign funds for official travel would be barred except to return to the seat of Government.
- Program continuity and states or grantees: Funding for programs, projects, and activities would be available at the most recent applicable appropriation rate initially for 14 calendar days, with automatic 14-day extensions as needed, but the measure bars large up-front distributions or new grants that would preempt final funding decisions.
*The bill would require that these automatic continuations be treated as discretionary appropriations for baseline and enforcement purposes under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act and counted as continuing appropriations for baseline purposes.*
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Automatic short-term funding during lapses
If enacted, the bill would create an automatic funding authority that keeps programs running when Congress does not pass full-year appropriations. Funds would be available at the prior rate for an initial 14 calendar days and would extend in additional 14-day periods while a lapse continues. Entitlement payments and Food and Nutrition Act programs would be funded at the rate needed to maintain program levels under current law. The authority would not let agencies make large up-front distributions or new grants that prejudice final appropriations and would change how budget offices score and count this spending.
Stricter floor rules during funding lapses
If enacted, the bill would limit what either House can consider during an automatic continuing-appropriations period. Only fiscal-year appropriations measures, motions to determine or produce a quorum, debt-limit measures, and a few narrow items after the 30th day would be in order. Members could not move to recess or adjourn for more than 23 hours, and the presiding officer would be required to call a noon quorum check each day. Any waiver of these limits would need a two-thirds vote and could last no more than seven days.
Limits on official and campaign travel
If enacted, the bill would bar most official travel by covered federal officers and employees during an automatic continuing-appropriations period. Allowed exceptions would include a single return trip to the seat of Government if the person is away when the lapse begins, travel within the National Capital Region, and travel related to national security continuity. The bill would also bar using campaign funds to pay for official travel during a covered period, except to return to the seat of Government if the individual is away when the covered period starts.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lankford, James [R-OK]
OK • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
WY • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
TN • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]
AL • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
IA • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
IA • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]
PA • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
WV • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
LA • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
SC • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]
PA • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI]
MI • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
AK • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
TX • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Armstrong, Alan [R-OK]
OK • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov