Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026 This bill provides continuing appropriations to prevent a government shutdown if the appropriations bills for a fiscal year have not been enacted before the fiscal year begins and continuing appropriations are not in effect. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations at the rate of operations that was provided for the prior fiscal year to continue programs, projects, and activities that were funded in the preceding fiscal year. The bill also limits official travel, congressional recesses or adjournments, and the consideration of legislation that is unrelated to appropriations after the beginning of a fiscal year if the appropriations process has not been completed.
- Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 424.
- Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- Introduced in Senate
The provisions, in plain language.
Creates automatic continuing appropriations that take effect whenever a new funding law has not been enacted on time, keeping the federal government funded at prior-year levels so it does not shut down while Congress works on a new budget.
Bans official travel spending for OMB officers and employees, Members of Congress, and congressional staff during any automatic-CR period, with narrow exceptions: a single return trip back to Washington, travel within the National Capital Region, and travel required by a national security continuity-of-government event.
Restricts Members of Congress from using campaign funds for ordinary purposes during an automatic-CR period, amending the Federal Election Campaign Act.
Locks the Senate and House legislative schedule during an automatic-CR period: only appropriations bills for the current fiscal year, debt limit legislation, quorum motions, and — after 30 calendar days — certain senior executive and judicial nominations and short-term authorization extensions for expiring programs may come to a floor vote.
Prohibits Congress from recessing or adjourning for more than 23 hours at a time during an automatic-CR period and requires a noon quorum call each day, keeping both chambers in session and working on appropriations.
Requires a two-thirds vote of the full chamber to waive any of the procedural restrictions above, and caps any single waiver at no more than 7 days, making it difficult to sidestep the pressure to pass a budget.
Sets budget-scoring rules so automatic-CR spending is counted against existing discretionary spending caps and fits within the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act frameworks, preventing the automatic funding from circumventing deficit-control limits.
Extends the deadline for mandatory sequestration (automatic spending-cut) reports when the report falls due during a funding lapse, moving the due date to 30 days after the start of the lapse if that is later.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Federal agencies and their employeesAutomatic continuing appropriations under Provision 1 prevent agency shutdowns and employee furloughs when Congress has not enacted new funding on time.
- Members of the public who rely on federal servicesContinuous government funding under Provision 1 means federal programs, benefits, and services are not interrupted during appropriations gaps.
- Federal contractors and grant recipientsAutomatic CRs under Provision 1 reduce the risk of work-stop orders and missed payments that occur during government shutdowns.
Who it burdens
- Members of Congress and their staffProvisions 2, 4, and 5 ban official travel, restrict the legislative calendar to appropriations and a few other matters, and prevent recesses or adjournments longer than 23 hours during an automatic-CR period — effectively compelling Congress to remain in session and focused on passing a budget.
- OMB officers and employeesProvision 2 bans official travel spending for OMB staff during an automatic-CR period, with only narrow exceptions.