HR 5572119th CongressIn Committee

Help FEDS Act

Introduced: Sep 26, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3] (D-Maryland)

Labor & Employment

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill would amend the Social Security Act to require state unemployment compensation systems to provide benefits to federal employees during government shutdowns. Currently, federal workers furloughed or working without pay during shutdowns face barriers to receiving unemployment benefits, as many states don't treat temporary government shutdowns as qualifying events for unemployment compensation. This legislation would standardize the treatment of federal employees across all states, ensuring they can access unemployment benefits when they are either furloughed or required to work without immediate pay during a lapse in federal appropriations. The bill aims to provide financial relief to federal workers caught in the middle of budget disputes.

Key Points

1Requires all states to treat federal employees affected by government shutdowns as eligible for unemployment compensation benefits
2Applies to both furloughed federal employees and those required to work without pay during funding lapses
3Amends Section 303 of the Social Security Act, which governs state unemployment compensation programs
4Creates uniform national standards for how states handle unemployment claims from federal workers during shutdowns
5Would make unemployment benefits available more quickly to federal employees facing financial hardship during shutdowns

Impact Areas

Federal Employees: Approximately 2-4 million federal workers who could face furloughs or unpaid work during shutdowns would gain access to unemployment benefitsState Unemployment Systems: States would need to adjust their eligibility criteria and administrative procedures to accommodate federal workers during shutdownsFederal-State Relations: Establishes new requirements for state compliance with federal unemployment compensation standardsGovernment Shutdown Economics: Could reduce financial hardship for affected workers and their communities during funding lapses

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