Shutdown Fairness Act

Key Provisions

• Requires federal agencies to automatically pay employees and contractors during government shutdowns, starting in the government's budget year 2026.
• Ensures federal employees, including military members, would get their regular paychecks on time during a shutdown.
• Mandates that if a shutdown is ongoing when the bill becomes law, covered employees would be paid within 7 days.
• Mandates that federal workers and contractor employees continue their usual duties as much as possible during a shutdown.
• Defines who counts as a "covered employee" to include most federal workers and military members who were employed before a shutdown.
• Stops these automatic payments once Congress passes a regular budget for the agency.