Prevent Government Shutdowns Act

Bill Number: H.R. 5870
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Economics and Public Finance
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-10-31: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, House Administration, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, 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: 2026-06-05T15:29:04Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "Prevent Government Shutdowns Act" (H.R. 5870) aims to avoid disruptions from lapses in federal funding by automatically providing short-term continuing appropriations (temporary funding extensions) for government programs. It also sets rules to encourage Congress to pass full-year budgets quickly and imposes penalties like travel restrictions during funding gaps.

Key Provisions

Automatic Continuing Appropriations (Section 2):
Defines a "lapse in appropriations" as occurring when full-year funding for a program, project, or activity isn't enacted, but it was funded in the prior year and no temporary funding is active.
Starting on the first day of a fiscal year, if a lapse happens, funding is automatically provided at the prior year's rate for operations, including loans and guarantees, under the same rules as before.
Funding lasts for initial 14-day periods, automatically extending in additional 14-day increments until full appropriations are passed.
For mandatory programs (like entitlements or certain nutrition assistance), funding maintains current legal levels.
Funding ends when a full appropriation or new continuing resolution is enacted; later charges go to the final budget.
Exceptions: No high initial spending or grants that could affect final budget decisions; only minimal funding to keep essential activities going.
Does not apply if other laws already provide funding or explicitly block it.

Timely Enactment of Appropriations (Section 3):
Applies restrictions during "covered periods" (automatic funding extensions), with special rules for the legislative branch around vetoes or failures to pass budgets.
Travel Limits: Bans official travel (except returns to Washington, D.C., local D.C.-area trips, or national security responses) for OMB staff, Members of Congress, and congressional employees. Campaign funds can't cover official travel during these periods (with return-trip exceptions).
Congressional Procedures:
In the House and Senate, debate is limited to budget bills, debt limit measures, quorum calls, and (after 30 days) certain high-level nominations or short-term program extensions for expiring activities.
No recesses or adjournments longer than 23 hours; daily quorum checks required.
Waivers need a two-thirds vote in each chamber and can't exceed 7 days.

Budgetary Effects (Section 4):
Treats automatic funding as discretionary spending for budget enforcement purposes.
Adjusts budget baselines to view these as partial-year funding.
Delays certain budget reports by up to 30 days if a lapse occurs.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Adds a new section (31 U.S.C. § 1311) for automatic, rolling 14-day funding extensions, replacing the current system where lapses lead to immediate shutdowns of non-essential operations.
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act to restrict campaign money use for official travel during lapses.
Introduces strict congressional floor rules to prioritize budgets, which don't exist now—current rules allow broader debate during shutdown threats.
Modifies budget scoring under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act to integrate automatic funding without inflating full-year baselines.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Ensures near-seamless operations for funded programs, reducing furloughs (temporary unpaid leaves) and administrative costs of shutdowns; agencies can maintain activities without abrupt halts.
Citizens: Minimizes disruptions to services like Social Security payments, national parks, or food assistance, avoiding economic uncertainty from past shutdowns (e.g., delayed pay for federal workers).
International Relations: No direct effects mentioned, though consistent U.S. government operations could indirectly support stable foreign aid or diplomatic functions if they rely on appropriations.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Federal Agencies and Employees: Benefit from uninterrupted funding but must adhere to prior-year limits during extensions.
Members of Congress and Staff: Face travel bans and procedural constraints, pressuring faster budget action; legislative branch has carve-outs around veto periods.
OMB and Budget Committees: Handle adjusted reporting and enforcement.
Citizens and Businesses: Gain reliability in government services and contracts, reducing shutdown-related economic losses (estimated at billions in past events).
Taxpayers: Automatic extensions could lead to prolonged spending at prior levels if budgets stall, potentially affecting fiscal discipline.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Codifies automatic funding to bypass shutdowns, but ties it to prior-year authority, preserving congressional control over final budgets. Travel and procedure rules may face challenges if seen as infringing on internal congressional operations.
Constitutional: Reinforces Article I's appropriations power by incentivizing timely enactment without mandating outcomes; quorum and debate limits are procedural, akin to existing House/Senate rules, but the two-thirds waiver raises the bar for flexibility.
Political: Shifts leverage in budget negotiations by removing shutdowns as a bargaining tool, potentially frustrating partisan delays while promoting bipartisanship (bill introduced by members from both parties). Could reduce public backlash from shutdowns but might encourage longer funding at outdated levels if Congress avoids hard choices.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19]

Cosponsors (20)

Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3], Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13]

Recent Actions

2025-10-31: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, House Administration, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, 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.
2025-10-31: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, House Administration, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, 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.
2025-10-31: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, House Administration, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, 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.
2025-10-31: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, House Administration, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, 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.
2025-10-31: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, House Administration, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, 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.
2025-10-31: Introduced in House
2025-10-31: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Prevent Government Shutdowns Act — issued 2025-10-31 — PDF (15 pages)