Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025
The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025 would create an automatic continuing appropriations mechanism to fund government operations if the normal appropriations process lapses. Starting at the first day of each fiscal year, if no full-year appropriation has been enacted for a program, project, or activity, the act would automatically provide funding at the rate of operations established in the preceding appropriation acts for a 14-day period, with automatic extensions of 14 days each time a lapse continues. Entitlements and other mandatory payments would be funded at current-law levels. The mechanism is designed to prevent a shutdown by keeping programs running while Congress works toward a full or continuing appropriation, but it also imposes strict limits and procedural constraints on how funds can be used and how Congress conducts business during a lapse. The bill becomes effective on September 30, 2025. In addition to creating automatic funding, the bill imposes limits on travel for “covered officers and employees” during a lapse, restricts the use of campaign funds for official travel, and imposes tight procedural rules for the Senate and House during a covered period (including limits on what can be considered, restrictions on recesses, and a structured timeline for certain nominations and extensions). It also provides for agency fund transfers under tight limits and requires an expedited congressional review path for President-transmitted anomalies. The overall aim is to keep government functions operating to avoid shutdowns while Congress addresses appropriations, but with explicit controls intended to constrain activity during a lapse.
Key Points
- 1Automatic continuing appropriations (Sec. 1311): Creates a formal mechanism to fund programs, projects, and activities at the prior-year or prior-continuing-appropriation levels during a lapse, for 14-day periods, with automatic 14-day extensions if the lapse continues.
- 2Transfer authority and limits: Agency heads, with OMB approval, may transfer up to 5% of an appropriation to higher-priority items to maintain essential functions, with mandatory notification to the appropriations committees.
- 3Travel and campaign-fund restrictions during a covered period: No general official travel by covered officers/employees unless specifically permitted (return to DC, travel within the National Capital Region, or trips related to national security events). Campaign funds may not be used for official travel during a covered period, with limited exceptions to return to DC.
- 4Congressional process during a covered period: In both chambers, only certain actions may proceed (e.g., new appropriations for the year of the lapse, quorum-related measures, certain debt-limit or emergency measures, and after 30 days, certain high-priority nominations or program-extensions). Recesses are restricted (no more than 23 hours), and daily quorum checks are required; waivers require a two-thirds vote.
- 5Budgetary and effective-date provisions: Treats automatic continuing appropriations as discretionary spending for budgeting purposes, defines the period as continuing until an appropriation or continuing appropriation Act is enacted, and sets an effective date of September 30, 2025.