Federal Employees Civil Relief Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5708
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-08: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-19T08:05:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Federal Employees Civil Relief Act (H.R. 5708) aims to temporarily protect federal workers from certain civil financial liabilities and legal actions during government shutdowns. A "shutdown" is defined as a lapse in appropriations lasting more than 24 hours or a breach of the statutory debt limit. The goal is to safeguard the civil rights of these workers by suspending or delaying proceedings that could harm them financially while they are furloughed or working without pay.
Key Provisions
The bill outlines protections modeled after the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, applying during a "covered period" (from the start of a shutdown until 30 days after it ends). Major provisions include:
- Definitions and Scope:
- "Federal worker" includes employees of government agencies (executive, legislative, judicial branches) and contractors.
- Applies nationwide, including U.S. territories, to judicial and administrative proceedings (but excludes criminal cases and child support).
- Government agencies must notify federal workers of these rights upon hiring and at the start of any shutdown.
- Anticipatory Relief (Sec. 5):
- Furloughed or unpaid federal workers can apply to courts for stays, postponements, or suspensions on payments like rent, mortgages, taxes, fines, penalties, insurance premiums, or student loans during a shutdown.
- Evictions and Housing (Sec. 6):
- Prohibits court-ordered evictions or distress (seizure of property for unpaid rent) of federal workers' residences during shutdowns without a court order.
- Courts can stay eviction proceedings for up to 30 days (or longer/shorter as needed) or adjust lease terms; may provide relief to landlords if equitable.
- Violations are misdemeanors, punishable by fine, up to 1 year in prison, or both.
- Mortgage and Foreclosure Protections (Sec. 7):
- For pre-existing mortgages on federal workers' property, courts can stay proceedings, adjust obligations, or invalidate sales/foreclosures during the covered period without court approval.
- Violations are misdemeanors.
- Liens (Sec. 8):
- Limits enforcement of liens (e.g., on stored property, repairs, or vehicle loans) without court order during the covered period.
- Courts can stay proceedings or adjust terms; violations are misdemeanors.
- Student Loans (Sec. 9):
- Defines student loans broadly (federal and private).
- Allows deferment during covered periods (no principal payments or interest accrual) for affected workers.
- Prohibits defaults, collections, adverse credit reporting, or wage garnishment without court order; courts can stay proceedings.
- Violations are misdemeanors.
- Income Taxes (Sec. 10):
- Defers federal income tax collection for up to 90 days post-shutdown if impacted; no interest or penalties accrue during deferral.
- Suspends statutes of limitations on tax collection during the covered period (excludes payroll taxes).
- Insurance Policies (Sec. 11):
- Prevents lapse or termination of health, life, disability, or auto insurance policies for non-payment of premiums during the covered period without court order.
- General Protections (Sec. 12):
- Using these reliefs cannot negatively affect future credit, insurance, or financial dealings.
- Courts can reduce/waive penalties for contract nonperformance due to shutdowns, stay judgments/garnishments, and extend protections to dependents.
- Enforcement (Sec. 13):
- Attorney General can sue for patterns of violations or significant public issues, seeking equitable relief, damages, and civil penalties (up to $55,000 first offense, $110,000 subsequent).
- Private right of action for aggrieved individuals, including damages, costs, and attorney fees.
- Does not preempt other legal remedies.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new protections specifically for federal workers during shutdowns or debt limit breaches, drawing from the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (which protects military personnel during service). Unlike existing laws, it:
- Creates temporary halts on a wide range of civil enforcements (e.g., evictions, foreclosures, loan defaults) tied directly to government funding crises.
- Mandates notifications by agencies and imposes criminal penalties for violations, which are not currently available in shutdown contexts.
- Expands deferment options for taxes and student loans beyond standard forbearance rules, with no interest accrual in some cases.
No direct amendments to prior laws are specified, but it would add a standalone framework without overriding criminal or child support proceedings.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Requires administrative burdens like notifications to workers; IRS must handle tax deferrals, potentially delaying revenue collection. Courts and the Attorney General gain new enforcement roles.
- On Citizens: Primarily benefits federal workers (about 2 million civilians plus contractors) and their dependents by reducing financial stress during shutdowns, preventing credit damage or homelessness. Landlords, lenders, insurers, and collectors may face delayed payments or adjusted terms, possibly leading to losses (though courts can provide equitable relief).
- On International Relations: No direct impacts; focuses on domestic financial protections.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Workers and Dependents: Primary beneficiaries, gaining relief from financial pressures.
- Creditors and Financial Institutions: Landlords, banks, loan servicers, insurers, and collectors face restrictions on enforcement actions.
- Government Entities: Agencies (e.g., IRS, courts), Attorney General for enforcement, and legislative/judicial branches for notifications.
- Consumers and Broader Public: Indirectly affected through potential taxpayer costs for enforcement or agency delays; consumer reporting agencies cannot use relief applications against workers' credit.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes a private right of action and misdemeanor penalties, strengthening enforcement but requiring courts to balance equities (e.g., worker relief vs. creditor rights). Modeled on existing relief acts, it avoids preemption of other laws, allowing complementary remedies like punitive damages.
- Constitutional: Could raise due process concerns for creditors (temporary property interest delays) or equal protection issues (favoring federal workers over others), but the short-term, shutdown-specific nature likely withstands scrutiny as a rational response to public service disruptions. No apparent First Amendment or separation of powers conflicts.
- Political: Addresses recurring shutdown harms (e.g., 2018-2019 event affected paychecks), with bipartisan sponsors signaling cross-aisle appeal. May incentivize avoiding shutdowns by highlighting worker vulnerabilities, but could be criticized for increasing federal intervention in private contracts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
Cosponsors (15)
Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-08: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-10-08: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-10-08: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-10-08: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-10-08: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-10-08: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-10-08: Introduced in House
- 2025-10-08: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Federal Employees Civil Relief Act — issued 2025-10-08 — PDF (18 pages)