Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026

Bill Number: S. 4632
Origin Chamber: Senate
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Economics and Public Finance
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-06-01: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 424.
Last Updated: 2026-06-08T12:15:40Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose The legislation aims to prevent federal government shutdowns by establishing automatic short-term funding during lapses in appropriations and creating incentives and procedural barriers to encourage timely passage of full-year appropriation acts.

Key Provisions

Automatic Continuing Appropriations: Adds Section 1311 to Title 31 of the U.S. Code. If appropriations lapse, funding continues automatically at the prior year's rate for 14-calendar-day periods, renewable indefinitely until a new appropriation act is enacted.
Entitlements and Mandatory Programs: Funding for entitlements, mandatory payments, and Food and Nutrition Act programs continues at levels needed to maintain current-law operations.
Travel and Campaign Fund Restrictions: During periods of automatic funding, covered officials (OMB officers/employees, Members of Congress, and their staff) face limits on official travel, with narrow exceptions for returns to Washington, D.C., local travel in the National Capital Region, or national security events. Campaign funds may not be used for official travel during these periods, except for returns to D.C.
Congressional Procedures: In both chambers, motions are restricted to appropriation measures, debt-limit bills, certain nominations (after 30 days), or limited authorization extensions. Recesses or adjournments longer than 23 hours are prohibited. Daily quorum calls are required. Waivers need a two-thirds vote and are limited to 7 days.
Budgetary Treatment: The automatic funding is classified as discretionary appropriations for deficit-control purposes, with specific rules for baselines and spending-limit enforcement. Reports on discretionary limits are delayed until 30 days after a lapse begins.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Creates the first statutory mechanism for automatic continuing appropriations, replacing reliance on ad-hoc continuing resolutions.
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act to restrict campaign-fund use for official travel during funding lapses.
Introduces new Senate and House rules limiting debate, recesses, and non-appropriation business during lapses.
Modifies budgetary scoring and enforcement rules under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Ensures uninterrupted operations for most programs but requires minimal funding actions and prohibits high initial distributions or new grants that could affect final funding decisions.
Citizens and Program Recipients: Reduces service disruptions from shutdowns, particularly for entitlement programs.
International Relations: Maintains stable funding for foreign assistance and diplomatic activities during lapses.
Congress and Executive Branch: Increases pressure to pass regular appropriations by limiting procedural flexibility and imposing personal costs on officials.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Members of Congress and their staff.
Office of Management and Budget personnel.
Federal agencies and employees responsible for program operations.
Recipients of federal entitlements, grants, and contracts.
Political campaigns and candidates subject to new travel-fund restrictions.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

References Article I, Section 7 procedures for presidential vetoes and pocket vetoes in defining covered periods.
Establishes supermajority (two-thirds) requirements for waiving new congressional rules, altering standard legislative procedures.
Treats automatic funding as part-year appropriations for spending-limit enforcement, affecting how deficits and baselines are calculated.
Aims to shift incentives toward regular-order appropriations without altering the constitutional appropriations process.

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

Sponsor

Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]

Cosponsors (20)

Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH], Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY], Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL], Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA], Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE], Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT], Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC], Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE], Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

Recent Actions

2026-06-01: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 424.
2026-05-21: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
2026-05-21: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-01 — PDF (16 pages)