The continuing resolution funding the federal government expired on September 30, 2025, causing a government shutdown. Earlier this week the shutdown officially became the longest shutdown in U.S. history, passing the 35-day shutdown from December 2018 into January 2019.

On October 29, the Congressional Budget Office stated most of the decline to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) will ultimately be recovered, but also estimates that up to $14 billion is lost forever if the shutdown extends to November 26. “The effects of the shutdown on the economy are uncertain,” the CBO wrote. “Those effects depend on decisions made by the administration throughout the shutdown. In addition, how federal employees and contractors respond to the delay in compensation is uncertain.”

The current shutdown could take another dramatic turn soon, as the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to cut flights by 10 percent at 40 high-traffic airports – impacting more than 4,000 flights daily – beginning today. Some airspace across the country may close, as well. Many are expressing hope these factors may spur negotiations.

While there was very little positive news throughout the entire month of November, we are encouraged to hear about legislators meeting across the aisle and having bipartisan negotiations to find a solution to end the shutdown. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said “the talks are more productive. It’s still a challenge, and there are issues to be solved.” Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) said, “The discussions are ongoing, and they’ve been very positive.”

Senate Democrats met this week to consider different options to end the shutdown while still working to extend the enhanced health insurance subsides scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. Meanwhile, Republicans are actively discussing how long to seek a new continuing resolution to give congressional appropriators the time they need to finalize Fiscal Year 2026 spending bills.

Some are seeking a December deadline to keep pressure to reach a deal, while others prefer a continuing resolution into January 2026, to avoid a “Christmas omnibus.” Other members would be happier still with a full-year CR.

Also emerging is a bipartisan proposal for Congress to complete work on the full-year appropriations bills they are close to agreeing on, providing funding for Agriculture, Military Construction-VA, and the Legislative Branch, and attaching a CR to temporarily fund the remaining agencies. Language to reverse some federal employee RIFs initiated as part of the shutdown are also part of the negotiations.

“This three-bill package funds WIC for the year,” said Senator Katie Britt (R-AL), an appropriator. “It would fund SNAP benefits for the year. It would fund Capitol Police for the year. It would fund veterans for the year. And what a better way to show good faith than to take that off the table.”

FY 2026 began on October 1, 2025.

FMA Efforts to Prevent and End the Shutdown

We know FMA members land on both sides of the aisle and we recognize every American has their thoughts on how our country should be run. Ultimately, a government shutdown is never good. It isn’t fair to FMA members, every federal employee and their families, and it is not fair to American citizens who pay their taxes and rightly expect Congress and the government to effectively work on their behalf.

On September 24, FMA National President Craig Carter sent a letter to every member of Congress imploring them to avert a shutdown. He also met with members of Congress and their staff during a visit to Washington, D.C. at the beginning of the shutdown. Carter sent another letter to every member of Congress urging them to end the devastating shutdown immediately. And on November 7, FMA endorsed the Shutdown Fairness Act (S. 3012), sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), that would immediately appropriate funds for federal agencies to pay all federal employees – excepted and furloughed – during any lapse in government funding. The bill would be retroactive to September 30, 2025, to cover the current shutdown and any future shutdown.

“There are no winners in a government shutdown,” Carter wrote. “It is a lose-lose proposition, and bad governing. Like every other shutdown, the current lapse in funding has long-term, tangible, irreparable negative effects, not just on federal managers and their families, but for every American who relies on the services they provide. We have grave concerns about weakened national security, limits on transportation, food inspection, and many other critical services for our nation as this shutdown continues. We urge you to come together, set politics aside, negotiate in good faith, and end the shutdown immediately for the good of the country,” Carter concluded.

Shutdown-Related Legislation FMA Has Endorsed

Following the 2018 government shutdown, Congress passed, and President Trump signed, the Government Employees Fair Treatment Act – a 2019 law that ensures all feds are provided back pay following a government shutdown. The law applies to any employee furloughed during “any lapse in appropriations that begins on or after December 22, 2018.”

While the Administration has suggested it is considering not giving back pay to all feds when the shutdown is over, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have appeared to distance themselves from the administration’s current argument about back pay. Legislators indicate the question of back pay for feds has been settled via the 2019 law and all feds, excepted and furloughed, are entitled to receive retroactive back pay.

FMA’s stance will continue to align with the 2019 law, providing back pay to all feds.

Several members of Congress have introduced shutdown-related bills as a result of the current shutdown. The following is a list of some of the bills FMA has endorsed that would support federal managers and provide a measure of relief to you and your families during any future government shutdown:

• The Shutdown Fairness Act (S. 3012)
  • Provides appropriations to pay all federal employees – excepted and furloughed – during a government shutdown.
  • Sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)

• The True Shutdown Fairness Act (S. 3039)
  • Provides appropriations to pay all federal employees – excepted and furloughed – during a government shutdown. Also expressly prohibits any agency from proposing or implementing a reduction in force (RIF) during a shutdown.
  • Sponsored by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

• The Federal Employees Civil Relief Act (H.R. 5708 / S. 2982)
  • Would allow federal employees to apply for a temporary stay in court during a shutdown to postpone debts like rent, mortgage, tax, fine, penalty, insurance premium, student loan repayment or other civil obligation or liability. The bill would also delay proceedings like eviction, foreclosure, tax liens, student loan debt, negative credit reporting and other financial obligations.
  • Sponsored by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA)

• The Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act of 2025 (H.R. 5674 / S. 2966)
  • Would remove penalties for federal employees who wish to make hardship withdrawals from their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts to pay bills during a protracted government shutdown. The bill would also allow workers withdrawing such funds to restore them to their retirement accounts later.
  • Sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA)

• The Help Federal Employees During Shutdowns (Help FEDS) Act (H.R. 5572 / S.2948)
  • Ensures federal employees who are required to work during a government shutdown are eligible to apply for unemployment insurance. Feds would have to pay that amount back at the end of the shutdown.
  • Sponsored by Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD) and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD)

• The Pay our Public Shipyard Workers Act (H.R. 5680)
  • Would ensure that the civilian and military workforce at America’s public shipyards continues to be paid during government shutdowns.
  • Sponsored by Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH)

Finally, FMA supports legislation that would avert shutdowns altogether:

• The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025 (S. 2721)
• o Would provide continuing appropriations to prevent a government shutdown if the appropriations bills for a fiscal year have not been enacted before the fiscal year begins and continuing appropriations are not in effect. The bill also limits official travel, congressional recesses or adjournments, and the consideration of legislation that is unrelated to appropriations after the beginning of a fiscal year if the appropriations process has not been completed.
• o Sponsored by Senator James Lankford (R-OK)

Reductions in Force (RIFs) Paused

FMA is supporting action to reverse all RIFs that occur in response to the shutdown. We are deeply concerned that federal employees are being used as scapegoats and political pawns. Federal employees should not be punished for Congress and the Administration failing to do its job. FMA stands steadfast against threatened reductions in force (RIFs) during a shutdown. Federal employees dedicate their careers to service to country and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

FMA joined 16 of our colleagues on the Federal-Postal Coalition on a letter urging Congress to reverse any shutdown-RIFs initiated.

The NTEU and several other unions launched lawsuits related to these RIFs, challenging the legality amidst concerns the action(s) violate the Anti-Deficiency Act. On October 28, U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston granted a preliminary injunction on the administration’s shutdown RIFs, blocking them from taking effect for now, pending an appeal.

“I think it’s important that we remember that although we are here talking about statutes and administrative procedure and the like, we are also talking about human lives, and these human lives are being dramatically affected by the activities that we’re discussing,” Judge Illston said.