Appropriates money to pay federal workers deemed essential, and contractors supporting them, for work they perform during a funding lapse, with the payments applying retroactively to September 30, 2025.

Official title: Shutdown Fairness Act

Outcome Blocked in the Senate: it did not get the 60 votes needed to end debate

Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions

Senate

Introduced 15-OCT-2025

On the calendar 15-OCT-2025

Blocked 23-OCT-2025

Key points

Provides funds for pay, allowances, differentials, and benefits for excepted federal employees working during a lapse in appropriations, starting with fiscal year 2026.
Covers contractors who support excepted employees and are required to work during a lapse, as determined by the agency head, and members of the Armed Forces on active duty.
Ends the availability of these funds once full-year or continuing appropriations covering the purposes are enacted, and charges the payments to the regular appropriation once it becomes law.
Bars obligating these funds during periods when continuing appropriations for the same purposes are in effect, and takes effect as if enacted on September 30, 2025.

AI-generated from the Placed on Calendar Senate text of 16-OCT-2025 · verify · report an error

Official CRS summary

Current. The Congressional Research Service's summary covers the bill's latest wording (Introduced in Senate, 15-OCT-2025).

CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.gov

Committee referrals (0)

No committee referrals on file.

Policy area

Government Operations and Politics

Sponsor Ron Johnson (R-WI) Cosponsors · 13

■ 13 R

13 Republicans