Legis Daily

Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026

USA119th CongressS-4632| Senate 
| Updated: 6/1/2026
James Lankford

James Lankford

Republican Senator

Oklahoma

Cosponsors (20)
Joni Ernst (Republican)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Katie Boyd Britt (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Tim Sheehy (Republican)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Tim Scott (Republican)John Kennedy (Republican)Deb Fischer (Republican)John Barrasso (Republican)John Fetterman (Democratic)David McCormick (Republican)Elissa Slotkin (Democratic)Chuck Grassley (Republican)Pete Ricketts (Republican)Steve Daines (Republican)Mark Kelly (Democratic)Mike Crapo (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill establishes a system of automatic continuing appropriations (ACA) to prevent federal government shutdowns. If full-year appropriation acts are not enacted, federal programs and activities would receive funding at the rate of their preceding appropriation acts, provided in 14-calendar-day increments that automatically extend if a lapse continues. To incentivize timely passage of regular appropriations, the bill imposes significant restrictions during any ACA period. Official travel is prohibited for Members of Congress, their staff, and Office of Management and Budget employees, with limited exceptions, and campaign funds for official travel are also restricted. Congressional procedures in both chambers are altered, severely limiting legislative activity to measures making appropriations, addressing the public debt limit , or, after 30 days, certain high-level nominations or program extensions. Daily quorum calls are mandated, and any waiver of these procedural limitations requires a two-thirds supermajority vote , creating strong pressure to resolve appropriations impasses. These automatic appropriations are classified as discretionary acts for budgetary estimation and considered part-year appropriations for enforcing spending limits, integrating the mechanism with existing budget enforcement rules.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-4461
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2020

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1877
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-589
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-135
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2023

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-3009
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-2727
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2021
Sep 4, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-5130
Introduced in House
May 21, 2026
Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
May 21, 2026
Introduced in Senate
Jun 1, 2026
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 424.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-4461
    Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2020


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1877
    Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-589
    Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-135
    Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2023


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-3009
    Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-2727
    Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2021


  • September 4, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-5130
    Introduced in House


  • May 21, 2026
    Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.


  • May 21, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • June 1, 2026
    Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 424.

Economics and Public Finance

Related Bills

  • HR 119-5870: Prevent Government Shutdowns Act
  • S 119-2721: Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025
  • HR 119-5130: Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025

Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026

USA119th CongressS-4632| Senate 
| Updated: 6/1/2026
This bill establishes a system of automatic continuing appropriations (ACA) to prevent federal government shutdowns. If full-year appropriation acts are not enacted, federal programs and activities would receive funding at the rate of their preceding appropriation acts, provided in 14-calendar-day increments that automatically extend if a lapse continues. To incentivize timely passage of regular appropriations, the bill imposes significant restrictions during any ACA period. Official travel is prohibited for Members of Congress, their staff, and Office of Management and Budget employees, with limited exceptions, and campaign funds for official travel are also restricted. Congressional procedures in both chambers are altered, severely limiting legislative activity to measures making appropriations, addressing the public debt limit , or, after 30 days, certain high-level nominations or program extensions. Daily quorum calls are mandated, and any waiver of these procedural limitations requires a two-thirds supermajority vote , creating strong pressure to resolve appropriations impasses. These automatic appropriations are classified as discretionary acts for budgetary estimation and considered part-year appropriations for enforcing spending limits, integrating the mechanism with existing budget enforcement rules.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-4461
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2020

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1877
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-589
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-135
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2023

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-3009
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-2727
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2021
Sep 4, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-5130
Introduced in House
May 21, 2026
Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
May 21, 2026
Introduced in Senate
Jun 1, 2026
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 424.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-4461
    Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2020


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1877
    Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-589
    Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-135
    Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2023


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-3009
    Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-2727
    Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2021


  • September 4, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-5130
    Introduced in House


  • May 21, 2026
    Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.


  • May 21, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • June 1, 2026
    Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 424.
James Lankford

James Lankford

Republican Senator

Oklahoma

Cosponsors (20)
Joni Ernst (Republican)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Katie Boyd Britt (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Tim Sheehy (Republican)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Tim Scott (Republican)John Kennedy (Republican)Deb Fischer (Republican)John Barrasso (Republican)John Fetterman (Democratic)David McCormick (Republican)Elissa Slotkin (Democratic)Chuck Grassley (Republican)Pete Ricketts (Republican)Steve Daines (Republican)Mark Kelly (Democratic)Mike Crapo (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Economics and Public Finance

Related Bills

  • HR 119-5870: Prevent Government Shutdowns Act
  • S 119-2721: Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025
  • HR 119-5130: Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted