Federal Employee Short-Term Disability Insurance Act of 2026

Sponsor: Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic-DC)May 11, 2026

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Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Federal employees could get voluntary short-term disability insurance for non-work injuries or family leave.

This bill would create a new, optional insurance program for federal employees. It would help them get paid if they can't work due to non-work injuries. It also covers time off to care for family, welcome a new child, or adopt/foster. Employees would pay for the insurance themselves.

What Would Change

Today, federal employees do not have a dedicated voluntary short-term disability insurance program for non-work related issues or family leave. After this bill, federal employees would have the option to buy into a new program that provides income protection for these situations. They would pay 100 percent of the premiums and could receive up to 70 percent of their pay for up to 12 months, after a chosen waiting period.

Key Provisions

Creates a voluntary short-term disability insurance program for federal employees.
Lets federal employees get paid benefits for up to 12 months if they have a non-work injury, care for family, or welcome a new child.
Requires employees to pay 100 percent of the insurance premiums.
Prevents insurance plans from denying coverage or charging more for pre-existing conditions.
Sets benefit payments at up to 70 percent of an employee's pay, or 70 percent of the maximum GS-15 salary, whichever is less.
Allows employees to choose their waiting period before benefits start, from 8 to 181 days, with earlier starts costing more.

View on Congress.gov

HR 8731 · 119th Congress · May 11, 2026 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 8/10

Federal Employee Short-Term Disability Insurance Act of 2026

What Would Change

Key Provisions

Lobbying Activity