On February 2, Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA) and six cosponsors introduced the True Shutdown Fairness Act (H.R. 7322), legislation that would pay all federal employees, service members, and federal contractors, during any government shutdown in Fiscal Year 2026. The bill is companion legislation to a measure introduced by Sen. Chris Van Hollen.

While the most recent 4-day partial shutdown concluded swiftly, the country is still recovering from the record 45-day government shutdown in October-November 2025. With the threat of government shutdowns a constant threat, and federal managers being used as pawns in a political game of chicken, FMA has endorsed a bevy of bills in the 119^th Congress to give federal employees some basic protections in the event of a future lapse in funding. Below is a compilation of shutdown-related bills FMA supports.

The Shutdown Fairness Act (S. 3168 / H.R. 7137)

Under this legislation, introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), federal employees would no longer be furloughed, would perform their duties to the maximum extent possible during a lapse in funding, and would be paid on their normal schedule throughout the duration of the lapse. The bill received bipartisan support during the shutdown, with improvements and safeguards included based on bipartisan negotiations with Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and others. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) introduced companion legislation in the House in January 2026.

The measure would appropriate funds to be solely used to pay salaries and wages to feds during any lapse in funding to agencies. It would apply to covered federal employees hired and onboarded prior to a shutdown, and every dollar appropriated would be required to go to employee paychecks. The bill would apply to any future lapse in funding, ensuring feds would no longer be forced to work without pay, or sent home, due to the inability of Congress and the Administration to fund agencies.

While the Shutdown Fairness Act would resolve the financial concerns of feds during a lapse in funding, FMA has also endorsed other relief measures in the event S. 3168 does not pass.

The Federal Employees Civil Relief Act (H.R. 5708 / S. 2982)

This legislation, sponsored by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), would allow federal employees to apply for a temporary stay in court during a shutdown to postpone debts like rent and mortgage payments, taxes, fines, penalties, insurance premiums, student loan repayments, or other civil obligations or liabilities. The bill would also delay proceedings like evictions, foreclosures, tax liens, student loan debt penalties, negative credit reporting, and other financial obligations.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act of 2025 (H.R. 5674 / S. 2966)

This bill, sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), 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.

The Help Federal Employees During Shutdowns (Help FEDS) Act (H.R. 5572 / S.2948)

This bill, sponsored by Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD) and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), ensures federal employees who are required to work during a government shutdown are eligible to apply for unemployment benefits. Feds would have to pay that amount back at the end of the shutdown and upon being paid.

The Pay our Public Shipyard Workers Act (H.R. 5680)

This bill, sponsored by Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), would ensure that the civilian and military workforce at America’s public shipyards continues to be paid during government shutdowns.

The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act (S. 2721 / H.R. 5130)

Finally, FMA supports legislation that would avert shutdowns altogether. The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025 (S. 2721 / H.R. 5130), sponsored by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) and Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX), respectively, would provide continuing appropriations at existing levels 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.

Upon a lapse in government funding, the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act would implement an automatic continuing resolution (CR), on rolling 14-day periods, based on the most current spending levels enacted in the previous fiscal year. During this time, particular restrictions would be instituted to ensure legislators work solely to restore funding, including:

• No taxpayer-funded travel allowances for official business (except one flight to return to Washington, DC) for the following:

o White House OMB staff and leadership

o Members of the House and Senate

o Committee and personal staff of the House and Senate

• No official funds may be used for CODEL or STAFFDEL travel

• No use of campaign funds by congressional offices to supplement official duties or travel expenses

• No motions to recess or adjourn in the House/Senate for a period of more than 23 hours

Additionally, no other votes would be in order in the House and Senate unless they pertain to passage of the appropriations bills or mandatory quorum calls in the Senate. After 30 days, legislators could consider a narrow and defined group of bills/programs and nominations for a Justice of the Supreme Court or a Cabinet Secretary.