Shutdown Fairness Act
Bill journey · stage 1 of 5
Just introduced
What it doesSummary introduced in senate (Oct 15, 2025)
Shutdown Fairness Act
This bill provides appropriations to pay federal employees who work during a government shutdown.
Specifically, the bill provides appropriations for federal agencies to provide standard rates of pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other payments to excepted employees for work performed 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). An excepted employee is an employee who is required to work during a government shutdown.
Under current law, excepted employees are not paid until the government shutdown is over. This bill provides appropriations to pay excepted employees during a government shutdown. The bill also specifies that the term excepted employee includes certain contractors who support federal employees during a government shutdown and members of the Armed Forces who are on active duty.
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 excepted employees of the agency.
The bill must take effect as if it had been enacted on September 30, 2025.
What just happenedNov 7, 2025
Upon reconsideration, cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 53 - 43. Record Vote Number: 609.
Who’s behind it
- Placed on Calendar SenateOct 16, 2025
- Nov 7, 2025Floor
Upon reconsideration, cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 53 - 43. Record Vote Number: 609.
- Nov 7, 2025Floor
Motion by Senator Thune to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 3012 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 585) agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote. (CR S7996)
- Nov 7, 2025Floor
Motion to proceed to consideration of the motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 3012 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 585) agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote. (CR S7996)
- Oct 23, 2025Floor
Motion by Senator Thune to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 3012 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 585) made in Senate.
- Oct 23, 2025Floor
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 54 - 45. Record Vote Number: 585. (CR S7720)
- Oct 21, 2025Floor
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S7185)
- Oct 21, 2025Floor
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S7184-7185)
- Oct 16, 2025Calendars
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 191.
- Oct 15, 2025Calendars
Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- Oct 15, 2025IntroReferral10000
Introduced in Senate