Military and Federal Employee Protection Act
Summary
The Military and Federal Employee Protection Act aims to appropriate funds to compensate federal employees, contractors, and members of the Armed Forces who experienced a lapse in pay due to a government shutdown. This includes those who were furloughed during the covered period, defined as October 1, 2025, until the Act's enactment. The Act ensures that these individuals receive their standard employee compensation for the period they were affected by the lapse in appropriations.
The bill allocates funds to each agency affected by the shutdown, directing them to provide the owed compensation within seven days of the Act's enactment. It also specifies that the funds are solely for compensating affected individuals and cannot be used for other purposes. The Act is designed to retroactively take effect as if enacted on September 30, 2025.
This ensures that those impacted receive their due compensation without delay.
Expected Effects
The Act will ensure that federal employees, contractors supporting federal employees, and members of the Armed Forces receive the pay they were due during the government shutdown. This will alleviate financial hardship for affected individuals and families.
It will also provide a sense of security and stability for those who rely on government paychecks. The Act prevents the transfer of funds to other purposes, ensuring the money is used as intended.
This will likely reduce the negative impacts of future government shutdowns on federal workers and the services they provide.
Potential Benefits
- Ensures timely compensation for federal employees, contractors, and military personnel affected by government shutdowns.
- Provides financial relief and stability to affected individuals and their families.
- Reduces the negative impact of government shutdowns on essential government services.
- Guarantees that appropriated funds are used solely for compensating affected individuals.
- Offers a sense of security and stability for those who rely on government paychecks.
Potential Disadvantages
- May create a precedent for automatic compensation during shutdowns, potentially reducing the incentive for Congress to avoid them.
- Could be seen as a temporary fix that doesn't address the underlying issues causing government shutdowns.
- The Act's focus on compensation might overshadow the broader economic impact of government shutdowns.
- Potential for disputes over the definition of "standard employee compensation."
- The Act may not cover all indirect economic losses suffered by individuals and businesses due to the shutdown.
Constitutional Alignment
The Act aligns with the Constitution's broad goals of promoting the general welfare (Preamble) by ensuring government employees are compensated for their work. Congress has the power of the purse (Article I, Section 9, Clause 7), giving it the authority to appropriate funds for this purpose.
The Act does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations. It operates within the established framework of congressional appropriations and executive branch execution.
However, the regularity of government shutdowns and the need for such acts may indicate a broader dysfunction in the budgetary process, which could be seen as a failure to "form a more perfect Union" as stated in the Preamble.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).