Sponsors
The bill saves taxpayer money and reduces the appearance of special treatment during funding lapses, but shifts travel costs onto Senators and may hinder their ability to perform duties during prolonged shutdowns.
Taxpayers will see reduced federal spending during appropriations lapses because Senators cannot use official office funds to pay or be reimbursed for commuting travel.
The public perception of fairness is improved by preventing Senators from using official office accounts for travel costs while other federal employees may be furloughed or unpaid during a shutdown.
Senators may be unable to travel between Washington and home during prolonged shutdowns, which could impede their ability to attend to constituents and carry out official duties.
Senators will incur increased out-of-pocket commuting costs during shutdowns, raising personal travel expenses for them.
Based on analysis of 1 section of legislative text.
Bars use of a Senator’s Official Personnel and Office Expense Account to pay or reimburse travel between the seat of Government and the Senator’s primary residence during any lapse in appropriations.
Introduced April 16, 2026 by Ashley Brooke Moody · Last progress April 16, 2026
Prohibits Senators from using funds in their Official Personnel and Office Expense Account to pay for or reimburse travel between Washington, D.C. (the seat of Government) and their primary residence during any lapse in appropriations for one or more Federal agencies (a government shutdown). The restriction covers both direct payments and reimbursements from amounts made available to a Senator from that account. The rule applies only to travel costs charged to that specific Senate account during a shutdown; it does not in the text create new spending, authorize other accounts, or specify enforcement mechanisms or alternative travel funding.