This bill is designed to keep the government running if Congress hasn't passed a budget by the time a new fiscal year starts. Instead of shutting down and stopping all government services, this law automatically provides temporary funding to keep things going.

Here's how it works: For the first 90 days, federal agencies get 94% of the money they had the previous year—a small 6% cut across the board. If Congress still hasn't passed a real budget after those 90 days, the funding gets cut by another 1%. This pattern continues every 90 days, with an additional 1% cut each time, until lawmakers finally agree on and pass an actual budget. So agencies gradually get less money the longer Congress delays, which creates pressure to pass a real budget rather than relying on these temporary measures indefinitely.

Essentially, this prevents the chaos and disruption of a complete government shutdown—where federal employees stop working and services stop—while still encouraging Congress to do its job and pass a proper budget. It affects every federal agency and program, from national parks to Social Security offices to the military.

Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2025

Paul, Rand

Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2025This bill provides continuing appropriations to prevent a government shutdown if an appropriations bill for a fiscal year has not been enacted before the fiscal year begins and continuing appropriations are not in effect.For an initial 90-day period, the bill provides continuing appropriations at 94% of the rate for the preceding year to continue programs, projects, and activities for which funds were provided in the preceding fiscal year. The bill reduces the continuing appropriations by 1% after the first 90-day period and by an additional 1% for each subsequent 90-day period until the applicable appropriations legislation is enacted.