Provide a premium payment to employees who worked without receiving pay during the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security of 10 percent of the pay the employees should have received during the shutdown. (S-4174)

Bill Summary

Summary

Requires agency and department heads to make a one-time premium payment to federal employees who worked during the government shutdown that began on February 14, 2026, but received no pay for that work. Each covered unpaid employee must be paid a single payment equal to 10% of their unpaid earnings (hours worked without pay × hourly rate of basic pay), and agencies must issue the payment within one day after that specific lapse in appropriations ends.

Key Points

Provides a single premium payment to federal employees who worked without pay during the lapse beginning Feb 14, 2026.
Payment equals 10% of unpaid earnings calculated as (hours worked without pay × hourly rate of basic pay).
Payment must be made within one day after the end of the specified lapse in appropriations.
Only employees who received no pay for work during that lapse are eligible; anyone who received any pay is excluded.
Applies only to the specific shutdown that began February 14, 2026 — not to other shutdowns.
Creates a short, urgent administrative obligation for agencies to identify eligible workers and process payments quickly.
Total cost depends on the number of unpaid hours and employees; the bill does not specify funding sources in the provided text.

Pros & Cons

The bill gives quick, targeted but small one-time cash relief to federal employees unpaid during the Feb 14, 2026 lapse, trading meaningful compensation for most lost wages and adding modest federal spending while excluding other shutdown-affected workers.

Potential Benefits

3

Federal employees who worked without pay on Feb 14, 2026 receive a one-time 10% premium on their unpaid hours, providing immediate cash relief.
Federal employees affected by the lapse receive payments very quickly (within 1 day after the lapse), reducing short-term financial uncertainty.
Federal employees who received no pay during the lapse—especially lower-income staff—are prioritized, focusing limited relief on those most harmed.

Potential Drawbacks

3

Federal employees who worked without pay on Feb 14, 2026 still permanently lose most of their unpaid wages because the payment is only a 10% premium.
Federal employees from other shutdown dates (prior or future) receive no comparable relief because the benefit is narrowly tied to the single Feb 14, 2026 lapse.
Taxpayers bear added federal spending costs for the premium payments, which marginally increases budgetary pressure.

AI Insights

Analyzed 1 of 1 sections

Categories & Tags

Agencies

each agency affected by the covered lapse in appropriations

head of each agency employing unpaid employees

Subjects

Federal Workforce

Government Spending & Debt

Appropriations (General)

Provide a premium payment to employees who worked without receiving pay during the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security of 10 percent of the pay the employees should have received during the shutdown.

Bill Summary

Summary

Key Points

Pros & Cons

Potential Benefits

Potential Drawbacks

AI Insights

Categories & Tags

Sponsors

Bill Summary

Summary

Key Points

Pros & Cons

Potential Benefits

Potential Drawbacks

AI Insights

Categories & Tags

Sponsors

Provide a premium payment to employees who worked without receiving pay during the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security of 10 percent of the pay the employees should have received during the shutdown.