In committee
True Shutdown Fairness Act
During any federal government shutdown in fiscal year 2026, federal civil servants, military personnel, and government contract workers would continue receiving their normal pay and benefits on their regular paydays. The bill requires federal agencies to reimburse contractors for lost wages or forced leave taken by their staff due to work stoppages, while requiring workers to continue performing their typical duties as much as possible. Additionally, agencies are prohibited from using a funding lapse to carry out permanent layoffs or place staff on extended administrative leave.
People affected—not determinable from the text provided; broadly covers all civil service employees across all three branches of the federal government, active and reserve military personnel, and affected federal contract employees during FY2026 lapses.
Fiscal magnitude—no CBO estimate published
Reach62provisional · pending reviewrigor: heuristic llm
What this bill touches.
Spending vs. restraint+40Role of government+35Workplace standards+55
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Federal employees and military personnelGuarantees standard pay, allowances, and benefits on regular pay dates (or within seven days for an ongoing lapse) during any fiscal year 2026 shutdown, and protects against reductions in force and extended administrative leave (Sec. 2(b), Sec. 3(b)).
- Federal contract workersReceives standard pay, compensation for lost hours or wages, and restoration of paid leave used during a fiscal year 2026 funding lapse (Sec. 2(b)(1)(B), Sec. 2(c)(3)).
- Federal contractorsReceives contract price adjustments from federal agencies to cover the costs of continuing pay and restoring paid leave for workers affected by a shutdown (Sec. 2(c)).
Who it burdens
- Federal agenciesMust disburse shutdown pay on strict timelines, adjust contract prices to reimburse contractors, and are prohibited from reprogramming shutdown funds or conducting staff cuts during a funding lapse (Sec. 2(b)(2), Sec. 2(c), Sec. 2(h), Sec. 3(b)).
- Covered federal employees and contract staffRequired to continue performing their regular job duties to the maximum extent practicable during a government shutdown (Sec. 2(l)(1)).
Who backs it
- Future enacted agency appropriationsMandates that all shutdown compensation spent under the bill must be charged against future enacted regular appropriations or funds for each respective agency (Sec. 2(g)).