Pay the People Act

In plain language: Pay the People Act This bill provides appropriations to pay federal employees during a government shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations for federal agencies to provide standard rates of pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other payments to agency employees (including contractors and members of the Armed Forces on active duty) during any period in which interim continuing appropriations or full-year appropriations are not in effect for a fiscal year (i.e., a government shutdown). A federal agency may not use the funds provided by this bill during any period in which continuing appropriations are in effect for the purpose of paying employees of the agency. The bill must take effect as if it had been enacted on September 30, 2025.

Provisional: our plain-language summary, pending review.