Sponsors (5)
The bill preserves pay and operational continuity for service members, certain civilians, and contractors during funding gaps—protecting individual incomes and military readiness—while creating open‑ended federal spending and weakening incentives and oversight that normally pressure timely appropriations.
Members of the Armed Forces (including reservists) will continue to receive pay and allowances during a federal funding lapse, avoiding immediate loss of income and preserving household financial stability.
DoD and Coast Guard civilian employees who are designated as supporting service members will continue to be paid during appropriations gaps, helping preserve household income and morale for federal employees tied to military missions.
Contractors who support military operations can receive pay during a lapse, helping maintain critical services and continuity of military operations and readiness.
Taxpayers may face additional unspecified costs because the bill authorizes 'such sums as are necessary' from the Treasury without a defined cap during funding gaps.
Extending pay protections during appropriations gaps could reduce political pressure on Congress to pass timely appropriations, potentially encouraging future funding delays and longer-term instability.
Allowing contractors to be paid during a lapse risks allocating public funds to private companies without the usual appropriations oversight, raising accountability and fairness concerns.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows Treasury to fund pay and allowances for military members, supporting DoD/DHS civilians, and contractors during any FY2025 funding lapse through Jan 1, 2026 or until replaced by later appropriations.
Provides Treasury funding as needed for FY2025 to ensure continued pay and allowances for members of the Armed Forces, specified DoD and Coast Guard civilian employees, and contractors who directly support those members during any lapse in appropriations. The authority and funds remain available until the earlier of a later appropriation for the same purpose, enactment of a regular or continuing appropriations measure without this purpose, or January 1, 2026.
Introduced March 10, 2025 by Emilia Strong Sykes · Last progress March 10, 2025