Sponsors (34)
The bill would provide targeted childcare-cost relief to furloughed or unpaid federal employees, but that relief is contingent on future appropriations and requires documentation that creates modest administrative work.
Federal employees who were furloughed or worked without pay during the Oct 1, 2025 lapse would be eligible to have childcare costs reimbursed, providing direct financial relief to affected parents and families (subject to future appropriations).
Requiring receipts for childcare reimbursements targets payments to documented expenses and reduces the risk of improper payments, improving stewardship of federal funds.
Federal employees eligible for childcare reimbursement may receive no payment if Congress does not provide the necessary appropriations, creating uncertainty for affected families.
Collecting and submitting receipts imposes an administrative burden on employees (gathering paperwork) and on the GSA to verify claims, adding workload and potential processing delays.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires reimbursement to federal employees for childcare paid during the lapse in appropriations beginning on or about Oct 1, 2025, if documented and funds are appropriated.
Introduced October 8, 2025 by Ilhan Omar · Last progress October 8, 2025
Requires the federal government to reimburse federal employees who were furloughed or worked without pay during the lapse in appropriations beginning on or about October 1, 2025, for childcare costs they paid during that lapse, if they submit receipts to the General Services Administration and subject to available appropriations. It also sets an official short title but does not itself appropriate funds or create a detailed payment mechanism beyond the receipt requirement.