Sponsors (7)
The bill protects pay and continuity for essential federal workers and contractors during funding gaps, at the cost of higher potential taxpayer outlays, expanded agency discretion, and a possible reduction in pressure on Congress to pass timely appropriations.
Federal employees and designated contractors will receive pay during funding lapses beginning in FY2026, protecting incomes and reducing workforce disruption.
Agencies get clearer, predictable authority to maintain essential operations during funding gaps, reducing abrupt interruptions to critical government services for the public.
The change could lessen pressure on Congress to pass regular appropriations quickly by insulating some pay from shutdown effects, increasing the risk of more frequent or longer funding gaps.
Taxpayers may incur additional outlays if the Treasury advances funds to cover pay during funding lapses.
Giving agency heads discretion to designate who is an "excepted employee" risks inconsistent or uneven application across agencies, creating potential unfairness and confusion for employees.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a permanent Treasury appropriation to pay excepted federal employees and required contractors during funding lapses, with expenditures later charged to regular appropriations.
Requires the Treasury to provide permanent, on-call funding to pay "excepted" federal employees and contractors who must work during a lapse in appropriations, starting in fiscal year 2026. Those funds are available only until Congress enacts regular appropriations (or explicitly declines to fund), and expenditures must later be charged to the agency’s regular appropriation when that appropriation or a continuing resolution becomes law.
Introduced October 9, 2025 by Ron Johnson · Last progress October 9, 2025