Senators Hassan, Lankford Team Up to End Government Shutdowns and Hold Congress Accountable

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and James Lankford (R-OK) today reintroduced the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026 , which would take government shutdowns off the table and force Congress to stay in town until their work is done. “Government shutdowns are costly, avoidable, and make people in New Hampshire and across the country pay the price for the failures of Congress,” said Senator Hassan. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill incentivizes Congress to fund the government on time and ensures that there is a plan in place to protect families and our economy if Congress cannot come to agreement.” "Americans are tired of worthless government shutdown drama and Congress using federal workers and government services as pawns in political standoffs,” said Senator Lankford. “The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act ends government shutdowns forever with a simple idea: if Congress doesn't do its job, Congress doesn't get to go home. We shift the pressure off the American people and onto the people they elected. We came within three votes of passing this before, and it is time to finish the job." Joining Hassan and Lankford in introducing the bipartisan legislation are Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Steve Daines (R-MT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Mike Crapo (R-ID), John Kennedy (R-LA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Tim Scott (R-SC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), John Fetterman (D-PA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ). Companion legislation has been introduced in the House by Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX-19) and Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19). The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026 has been endorsed by The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Americans for Prosperity (AFP), International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), Association of Flight Attendants, Partnership for Public Service (PPS), Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB). “AFGE is proud to support the bipartisan Prevent Government Shutdowns Act, introduced by Senators Hassan and Lankford. If government funding runs out, this bill forces Congress to burn the midnight oil until a deal is reached – and meanwhile keep the lights on in federal agencies. During the last shutdown, Congress had several lengthy recesses back home while tens of thousands of hardworking employees worked without the guarantee of a paycheck. This legislation is a commonsense approach to the all-too-frequent government shutdowns that disrupt public services, threaten employee livelihoods, and drive talented employees out of government. Congress should pass this legislation without delay,” said Dr. Everett Kelley, National President, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE). "When critical aviation and transportation security workers are forced to work without pay or face uncertainty about their livelihoods, government shutdowns are a direct threat to aviation safety by undermining the safety infrastructure that the traveling public depends on every day. The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act would end the dysfunction that puts our national airspace at risk by ensuring federal agencies can continue operating while Congress does its job. ALPA applauds Senator Hassan and her colleagues for taking this commonsense step to protect workers and the flying public,” said President Capt. Jason Ambrosi, Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). “Government shutdowns are completely avoidable. One of the most basic functions of lawmakers is to keep the government funded. Failing to do so is a waste of taxpayer dollars, harms the economy, and distracts from the far bigger challenge of addressing our unsustainable debt. The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act is a commonsense reform that would help fix a broken budget process by automatically maintaining funding when appropriations deadlines are missed,” said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CFRB). ?"Government shutdowns are not an appropriate tool to resolve political disputes and they?ultimately fail to put the needs of our country and its people first.?Reasonable solutions, like the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act,?would help end this cycle of mismanagement and ensure that federal agencies can deliver the services the public depends on. I applaud Senators Lankford and Hassan for their leadership on this issue and urge Congress to move swiftly to make shutdowns a relic of the past." said Max Stier, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service (PPS). "When government shutdowns occur, federal workers are the ones who bear the brunt. Employees are left to wonder whether they’ll be able to pay their mortgage or buy groceries while Congress fails to act. NTEU applauds Senators Hassan and Lankford for working together on this bill that would prevent future shutdowns and ensure that federal employees can continue to do their work serving the American people," said Doreen Greenwald, President of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU). “Congress never meant for shutdowns to be possible: they came from an executive branch decision in 1980 about a 19th century law. Today, the shutdown threat pushes members to vote for bills they didn’t get to read or have the chance to amend. Keeping programs going while Congress finishes up funding bills would help involve more members in the process and truly earn their support. We commend Senators Lankford and Hassan for building a stronger, more effective Congress through the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act," said Kurt Couchman, Senior Fellow in Fiscal Policy, Americans for Prosperity. Introduced initially in February 2019 , the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act requires that if appropriations work is not done on time, all Members of Congress must stay in Washington, DC, and work until the spending bills are completed. This will prevent a government-wide shutdown, continue critical services and operations for Americans, and hold federal workers harmless while Congress completes appropriations. Upon a lapse in government funding, the bill would implement an automatic continuing resolution (CR) on rolling 14-day periods, based on the most current spending levels enacted in the previous fiscal year. This would prevent a shutdown and continue critical services and operations. During the covered period of an automatic CR, the following restrictions are put in place: No taxpayer-funded travel allowances for official business (except one flight to return to Washington, DC) for the following: White House OMB staff and leadership Members of the House and Senate Committee and personal staff of the House and Senate No official funds may be used for CODEL or STAFFDEL travel No use of campaign funds by congressional offices to supplement official duties or travel expenses No motions to recess or adjourn in the House/Senate for a period of more than 23 hours In addition, under the bill, no other votes would be in order in the House and Senate unless they pertain to passage of the appropriations bills or mandatory quorum calls in the Senate. However, after 30 days under the automatic CR, certain expiring authorization bills and executive calendar nominations would be eligible for consideration on the Senate floor, including a nomination for a Justice of the Supreme Court or a Cabinet Secretary, and narrow reauthorization legislation for programs operating under an authorization that has already expired or will expire within the next 30 days. These restrictions can be waived by a two-thirds vote in either chamber, but not for longer than seven days. Read the full text of the bill here . ###