Bill · S. 499· Senate(119-S-499)
Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/10/2025
- Last activity
- 2/10/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
- Sponsored by
- Rand Paul
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2025 aims to amend title 31 of the United States Code to establish automatic continuing resolutions. If an appropriation Act is not enacted by the start of a fiscal year, funds are automatically appropriated to continue programs, projects, or activities. These funds are set at a specific rate of operations based on previous funding levels. The rate of operations starts at 94 percent and decreases by 1 percentage point for every subsequent 90-day period. This mechanism is designed to provide continuous funding until a regular appropriation bill or a new continuing resolution becomes law.
Yes
Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?+2
The bill ensures continuous funding for the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to maintain program levels.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+2
The bill specifically protects funding levels for the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+1
The bill creates a predictable mechanism to prevent government shutdowns through automatic appropriations.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-3
The bill implements a declining rate of operations that reduces funding by 1% every 90 days compared to the previous year.
Does this send more money or help to other countries?-2
The bill restricts the ability of programs to make high initial rates of operation or complete distributions of funding to foreign countries.
Would people in cities be better off under this?-1
The bill limits the ability of grant-making programs to distribute full funding at the start of a fiscal year.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Continuous Program Operation: Under Section 2(a)(1), if a new appropriation Act is not passed, funds are automatically appropriated to continue programs, projects, or activities. This ensures that government functions continue even if Congress has not passed a regular budget.
-
Protection for Entitlements and Food Programs: According to Section 2(a)(2)(C), for entitlements, mandatory payments, and activities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, funding will be provided at a rate necessary to maintain program levels under current law. This prevents these specific vital services from being subject to the 94 percent reduction applied to other programs.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Reduction in Funding Levels: Section 2(a)(2)(A) dictates that most programs, projects, or activities will receive funding at a rate of 94 percent of the previous year's rate. This reduction can decrease by 1 percentage point every 90 days, meaning funding levels get lower over time.
-
Restrictions on Grants and Distributions: Under Section 2(a)(3), programs that typically have high initial rates of operation or complete distributions of appropriations at the start of a fiscal year—such as those providing funds to States, foreign countries, or grantees—will not be allowed to make those high initial rates or complete distributions.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Government Spending-3
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Increases Foreign Aid-2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+2Good For Urban Residents-1
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+1
- 2/10/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.