BOPEN Act of 2025

Bureau of Prisons Earnings Now Act of 2025 or the BOPEN Act of 2025

This bill provides appropriations for the salaries and expenses of staff of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) during any period in which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2026 or FY2027 are not in effect (i.e., a government shutdown). The bill does not apply to any officer of the BOP who is required to be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. 

Update Date: 2025-10-20 00:00:00

To provide for continued operation of the Federal Aviation Administration in the event of a lapse in appropriations.

This bill provides appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) if there is a lapse in appropriations for the FAA. Specifically, the bill provides the appropriations that are necessary for the operation of the FAA for the lesser of (1) 30 days, or (2) the duration of the lapse in appropriations.

Update Date: 2025-10-20 00:00:00

Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025

Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025

This bill provides back pay to employees of federal contractors who lost pay due to a lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown) in FY2026.

Specifically, the bill provides appropriations for federal agencies that are subject to a lapse in appropriations in FY2026 to adjust the price of contracts to compensate federal contractors for providing back pay to employees who were affected by the lapse in appropriations. 

The agencies must adjust the price of any contract for which the contractor stopped, suspended, delayed, or interrupted all or part of the work under the contract due to the lapse in appropriations. The price adjustment must compensate the contractor for reasonable costs incurred to (1) compensate employees who were furloughed or laid off, were not working, or experienced a reduction of hours or compensation due to the lapse in appropriations; or (2) restore paid leave taken by employees during the lapse in appropriations if the contractor required or permitted employees to use paid leave as a result of the lapse in appropriations.

The maximum amount of weekly compensation of an employee for which an adjustment may be made under this bill may not exceed the lesser of (1) the employee's actual weekly compensation, or (2) $1,442 (or a lesser amount pro-rated for an employee who works less than 40 hours per week).

The bill also requires the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to submit a report to Congress on the adjustments made under this bill.

Update Date: 2025-10-20 00:00:00

Federal Employees Civil Relief Act

Federal Employees Civil Relief Act

This bill establishes a framework to temporarily suspend certain judicial and administrative proceedings against a federal employee or contractor during a shutdown.

Under the bill, a shutdown is a period in which (1) there is more than a 24-hour lapse in appropriations for any federal agency or department because a regular appropriations bill or a continuing resolution has not been enacted, or (2) the debt of the federal government is greater than the statutory limit.

A federal worker (i.e., an employee of a government agency or contractor) who is furloughed or required to work without pay during a shutdown may apply to a court for a temporary stay, postponement, or suspension with respect to any payment of rent, mortgage, tax, fine, penalty, insurance premium, student loan repayment, or other civil obligation or liability that the worker owes or would owe during the duration of the shutdown.

The bill includes related provisions that restrict evictions, foreclosures, the enforcement of liens, and the termination of insurance policies during a shutdown. It also provides for the deferral of federal income taxes and student loan payments during a shutdown.

The Department of Justice may commence a civil action against any person who engages in (1) a pattern or practice of violating the requirements of this bill, or (2) a violation that raises an issue of significant public importance. A person aggrieved by a violation of this bill's requirements may also bring a private right of action.

Update Date: 2025-10-20 00:00:00

To authorize the reimbursement by the Federal Government of State funds used to maintain participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in the event of a Government shutdown.

This bill requires the federal government to reimburse state agencies that use state funds to carry out operations necessary to maintain participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during a lapse in discretionary appropriations (i.e., government shutdown). WIC provides nutrition-rich foods, nutrition education, and health care and social services referrals to eligible low-income women, infants, and children.

Update Date: 2025-10-20 00:00:00

Federal Worker Childcare Protection Act of 2025

Federal Worker Childcare Protection Act of 2025

This bill authorizes certain federal employees to be reimbursed for childcare expenses paid during the government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025.

Under the bill, any federal employee who was furloughed or worked without receiving a paycheck during the lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown) that began on October 1, 2025, and paid for childcare during the lapse is eligible to be reimbursed for the childcare expenses if (1) appropriations are provided for this purpose, and (2) the employee submits a receipt from a childcare provider to the General Services Administration. 

Update Date: 2025-10-20 00:00:00

Shutdown Fairness Act

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. 

Update Date: 2025-10-20 00:00:00