The "Shutdown Fairness Act" aims to ensure that federal employees, members of the Armed Forces, and essential contractors receive timely compensation during a government shutdown. It automatically appropriates necessary funds from the Treasury for fiscal year 2026 and subsequent years whenever there is a lapse in regular appropriations. These funds cover standard employee compensation for all agency employees, including those furloughed or deemed excepted, and active duty military or reservists, provided they were employed or accepted an offer before the shutdown began. The bill also mandates payments to covered contractors who are required to perform work supporting agency employees during a lapse, based on an agency head's determination. Agencies are required to provide compensation to covered employees as soon as practicable, or on regularly scheduled pay dates for future shutdowns. Expenditures made under this act are to be charged to the applicable future appropriations once enacted into law. Funds provided by this act are specifically limited to employee compensation and contractor payments and cannot be transferred or reprogrammed for other purposes. The legislation clarifies that covered employees are to be compensated as if they performed their duties during the lapse, and both employees and contractors are expected to perform their typical duties to the maximum extent practicable. This ensures continuity of pay and essential services during periods of funding uncertainty.