True Shutdown Fairness Act
Sen. Van Hollen Introduces Bill to Pay Federal Workers and Troops During Shutdown
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process after being sent to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for review. It is considered active, but there are no upcoming votes or hearings scheduled at this time. The bill does not have a companion bill in the House of Representatives.
Passage Likelihood
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would guarantee regular paychecks for all federal employees across all three branches of government during any lapse in appropriations that began October 1, 2025. It covers both furloughed workers and those deemed essential who continue working without pay.
From policy text
“there are appropriated to the head of each agency with respect to which there is a covered lapse in appropriations, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as are necessary to provide, with respect to the covered lapse in appropriations, standard rates of pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other payments”
View in full text - The bill extends pay protections beyond regular federal workers to include contractors supporting federal agencies, active-duty military members, and National Guard or Reserve members performing active service or training during the shutdown.
From policy text
“includes-- (i) a contractor who provides support to an employee described in subparagraph (A); (ii) a member of the Armed Forces on active duty; and (iii) a member of a reserve component who, during the covered lapse in appropriations with respect to the applicable agency, performs active service or inactive-duty training”
View in full text - Agencies would be banned from carrying out layoffs or reductions in force during the shutdown. The bill also limits administrative leave to no more than 10 work days per calendar year, preventing agencies from sidelining employees as a workaround.
From policy text
“none of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to-- (1) propose or implement a reduction in force, or any similar effort, to permanently reduce the number of employees employed by an agency; or (2) place any employee of an agency in administrative leave for more than 10 work days in any calendar year”
View in full text - The funding would come from the Treasury and later be charged against future appropriations once Congress passes a regular budget. This means the government essentially fronts the money now and accounts for it later.
From policy text
“Expenditures made pursuant to this Act shall be charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever a bill in which such applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization is enacted into law.”
View in full text - The bill applies retroactively to September 30, 2025, the day before the shutdown started, so no federal worker loses pay for time already spent working or furloughed during the funding gap.
From policy text
“This section shall take effect as if enacted on September 30, 2025.”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
State Impacts
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Related Bills
1 billSource Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
True Shutdown Fairness Act
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