James Lankford (R-OK)
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025
A Republican bill with 15 Republican cosponsors · See all 15 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025 creates a system for automatic continuing appropriations if Congress fails to enact budget laws. This ensures that programs, projects, and activities continue to receive funding at previous rates in 14-day increments during a lapse. The bill also imposes restrictions on the travel expenses of certain officials and Members of Congress during these periods. Additionally, it limits the types of legislative business the House and Senate can conduct until appropriations are passed.
Yes· 3 of 21
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Protects critical food assistance and entitlement payments from shutdowns.
- Scored +5
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
Protects Social Security and mandatory payments from shutdown interruptions.
- Scored +5
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
Ensures continuity of veterans' healthcare and benefits during shutdowns.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Prevents Service Interruptions: By providing automatic funding at the rate of preceding appropriation Acts, the bill ensures that programs and activities continue to operate during a lapse in appropriations (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Protects Mandatory Payments: The bill specifically ensures that entitlements, mandatory payments, and activities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 maintain program levels under current law during a funding lapse (Section 2(b)(3)).
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Holds Officials Accountable: The bill prohibits the use of official funds for travel by Members of Congress and certain officers during a covered period, except for specific exceptions like returning to DC or national security events (Section 3(b)(1)).
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Prevents Misuse of Campaign Funds: The bill bans the use of campaign contributions or donations for official travel duties during a period of automatic continuing appropriations (Section 3(b)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limits Legislative Flexibility: The bill restricts the House and Senate from moving to proceed to most matters during a covered period, except for a few specific categories like appropriations, debt limits, or emergencies (Section 3(c)(1)(A)).
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Restricts Grant Awards: To avoid impacting final funding decisions, the bill prohibits awarding grants or making high initial distributions of funding to States, foreign countries, or grantees during these automatic funding periods (Section 2(f)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Protects critical food assistance and entitlement payments from shutdowns. Would retired people be better off under this? — Ensures uninterrupted delivery of Social Security and other retirement benefits. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Protects Social Security and mandatory payments from shutdown interruptions. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Ensures continuity of veterans' healthcare and benefits during shutdowns. Would children be better off under this? — Ensures nutrition programs for children continue during government shutdowns. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Provides greater stability for government services and prevents economic shocks. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Protects mandatory payments and services for the disabled from shutdowns. Would union members be better off under this? — Prevents federal employee furloughs that often affect unionized government workers. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Protects social safety net programs that disproportionately serve minority communities. Would business owners be better off under this? — Reduces economic uncertainty caused by government shutdowns. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Protects social safety net programs that disproportionately serve minority communities.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this strengthen Social Security? — Explicitly protects mandatory payments and entitlements during funding lapses. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Protects Food and Nutrition Act programs from shutdown interruptions. Does this tighten control of the border? — Ensures funding for border security operations continues during a shutdown.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Creates consequences for Congress's failure to enact timely appropriations. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Prevents economic disruptions caused by government shutdowns.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Prevents interruption of federally funded health services during shutdowns. Does this help veterans get medical care? — Ensures continuous funding for healthcare services during appropriations lapses.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — Guarantees funding for veterans' programs during appropriations lapses.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — Ensures continuity of funding for emergency and disaster measures.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this limit or expose the money behind campaigns? — Restricts the use of campaign funds for official travel during budget lapses.
- 3/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/21/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/18/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/4/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 10 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
5 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
John BarrassoRepublican · Wyoming
Ted BuddRepublican · North Carolina
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
John CornynRepublican · Texas
Bill CassidyRepublican · Louisiana
Steve DainesRepublican · Montana
Joni ErnstRepublican · Iowa
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · Iowa
Josh HawleyRepublican · Missouri
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Ashley MoodyRepublican · Florida
Pete RickettsRepublican · Nebraska
Dan SullivanRepublican · Alaska
Tommy TubervilleRepublican · Alabama