Government Shutdown Efficiency Act

Bill Number

H.R. 6023

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-11-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Last Updated

2026-01-07T09:05:47Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "Government Shutdown Efficiency Act" (H.R. 6023) aims to grant the President temporary authority to sell federal real property—such as land or buildings owned by the U.S. government—during periods when Congress fails to pass funding bills, known as lapses in appropriations or "shutdowns." This would allow the government to generate funds to keep essential operations running without relying on emergency borrowing or other restricted measures.

Key Provisions

• Sales Authority During Shutdowns: The President can sell any federal real property during a partial or full funding lapse, overriding normal federal financial management rules (found in chapter 33 of title 31 of the U.S. Code, which generally limits spending without appropriations).
• Use of Proceeds: Funds from sales can pay salaries and expenses for federal workers and military personnel who are exempt from furlough (job suspension) during shutdowns, such as those in essential roles like national security or public safety.
• Emergency Designation: Work related to these sales is treated as emergency services to protect human life or property, allowing it under existing anti-deficit spending laws (section 1342 of title 31).
• No Duplicate Pay: Workers paid from sale proceeds during a shutdown cannot later receive back pay once funding resumes (under section 1341(c) of title 31).
• Handling of Funds Post-Shutdown: Any leftover proceeds must go into the U.S. Treasury's general fund to reduce the federal deficit. However, these funds may also be used to purchase Greenland (the Danish territory in the Arctic).
• Property Exclusions: Sales cannot include lands held in trust for Native American tribes or reservations.
• Prohibition on Sales to Adversaries: Federal property cannot be sold to North Korea, China, Russia, Iran, or entities they substantially control, regardless of other laws.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill creates a new exception to strict anti-deficit spending rules (the Antideficiency Act in title 31), which normally prohibit federal spending or obligations without congressional appropriations. It allows property sales as a workaround during shutdowns.
• It introduces a unique carve-out for using sale proceeds toward buying foreign territory (Greenland), which has no precedent in current law.
• It bars sales to specific foreign adversaries, adding a national security restriction not previously codified in this context for federal property disposals.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Agencies could lose control over valuable real estate assets during shutdowns, potentially disrupting long-term planning or operations. Essential services might continue more smoothly with sale-funded pay, reducing shutdown disruptions.
• On Citizens: Taxpayers could benefit from deficit reduction via deposited funds, but might face indirect effects if agencies sell off public lands or facilities. Essential workers (e.g., border patrol, air traffic controllers) avoid unpaid furloughs, minimizing service interruptions.
• On International Relations: The Greenland purchase provision could strain ties with Denmark (Greenland's governing nation) if pursued, echoing past U.S. proposals. The sales ban to adversaries reinforces U.S. foreign policy but limits potential buyers in global real estate markets.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Executive Branch: The President gains new flexibility in managing crises; federal agencies (e.g., those under Transportation, Oversight, and Foreign Affairs committees) may need to identify and prepare properties for sale.
• Federal Employees and Military: Excepted workers benefit from continued pay; active-duty military (including reserves) are explicitly included.
• Native American Tribes: Protected from sales of their trust lands, preserving sovereignty over reservations.
• Foreign Entities: Adversary nations and their controlled companies are excluded as buyers; Denmark and Greenland could be impacted by the purchase clause.
• U.S. Taxpayers and Congress: Proceeds aid deficit reduction, but the bill shifts some fiscal power from Congress to the President during lapses.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Challenges the balance of the Antideficiency Act by enabling asset liquidation to fund operations, potentially inviting court tests on whether this violates prohibitions against unauthorized spending. The Greenland provision may require separate treaties or negotiations, as it involves international law.
• Constitutional: Raises questions about separation of powers, as Article I of the Constitution gives Congress control over federal spending ("power of the purse"). This could be seen as delegating too much authority to the executive during congressional gridlock.
• Political: Positions shutdowns as opportunities for executive action on efficiency and deficit reduction, but the Greenland reference may spark debate as symbolic or unrealistic. Referred to multiple committees, it signals broad jurisdictional review for national security and fiscal implications.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7]

Recent Actions

• 2025-11-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
• 2025-11-12: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
• 2025-11-12: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
• 2025-11-12: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
• 2025-11-12: Introduced in House
• 2025-11-12: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Government Shutdown Efficiency Act — issued 2025-11-12 — PDF (4 pages)