Federal Employees Civil Relief Act

Summary

Provides a set of temporary civil-relief protections for Federal workers and certain contractor employees during a government shutdown. It lets affected workers delay collection of federal income tax and many other civil obligations (rent, mortgages, liens, insurance premiums, student loans, fines, and similar debts) while a shutdown is ongoing and for a short period afterward; it also bars adverse credit and insurance actions based solely on use of those protections and creates enforcement tools and penalties for violations. The measure defines the covered period (shutdown start through 30 days after it ends), extends stays and adjustments through courts, gives the Attorney General and individuals enforcement powers (including monetary damages and civil penalties), and establishes criminal penalties for knowingly violating eviction, foreclosure, or lien prohibitions.

• Federal workers and qualifying contractor employees can defer collection of Federal income tax due to a shutdown for up to 90 days after it ends, with interest and penalties suspended during the deferral period.
• Covered insurance policies (health, life, disability, motor vehicle) cannot lapse or be terminated for nonpayment of premiums during the covered shutdown period absent a court order.
• Courts may stay or adjust civil obligations (rent, mortgages, liens, fines, student loans, taxes) for workers materially affected by a shutdown; stays may be granted on motion or by the court sua sponte.
• Evictions, foreclosures, lien enforcement, and repossessions against affected workers during the covered period are prohibited except by prior court order; knowing violations are misdemeanors.
• Student loan default, collection, reporting, garnishment, and enforcement actions are barred during the covered period unless a court orders otherwise.
• Attorney General can sue for patterns or significant violations; courts can award equitable relief and monetary damages and impose civil penalties up to $55,000 (first) and $110,000 (subsequent).
• Aggrieved individuals have a private right of action and may recover costs and reasonable attorney's fees if they prevail.
• The Act covers the United States, states, political subdivisions, and territories, and requires agency heads to notify workers of protections.
• No new appropriations are specified; protections operate via stays, adjustments, judicial orders, and enforcement actions.
• The statute excludes the employee share of FICA from the tax-deferral provision and excludes criminal proceedings and child support matters from its civil-procedure coverage.