Congress·In Committee·H.R. 5874

Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act

Firearms: Gun Services During Government Shutdowns

Oct 31, 2025·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Next up: A house committeeNo action in 8 months

A house committee must act next: committee consideration.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Unlikely to pass

This bill is supported only by one party and would likely be blocked in the Senate. It is seen as a partisan priority rather than a broad solution to government shutdowns.

Key Points

This bill would make sure that gun background checks and export licenses do not stop if the government shuts down. It would require certain federal employees at the FBI and ATF to keep working even when there is no budget.
The plan covers the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which gun stores use to verify buyers. It also keeps offices open at the Department of Commerce and the Department of State that handle licenses for selling firearms to other countries.
Under current rules, many federal offices close during a government shutdown. This bill would label gun-related services as emergency work needed to protect life and property, which allows those offices to stay open.
This change would prevent delays for people trying to buy guns and for companies that ship firearms overseas. It aims to protect the rights of gun owners and the business of firearm manufacturers during political standoffs. However, some may argue it is unfair to keep these specific offices open while other important government services stay closed.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Oct 31, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

Oct 31, 2025

Introduced in House

The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.

No votes or news coverage recorded for this bill yet.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act

Bill NumberHR 5874

Congress119th Congress

ChamberHouse of Representatives

Latest ActionReferred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.