Eliminate Shutdowns Act: Government Services Guaranteed for 14-Day Increments Starting September 2025

The 'Eliminate Shutdowns Act' is exactly what it sounds like: a procedural fix designed to stop the federal government from grinding to a halt every time Congress misses a budget deadline. It’s the legislative equivalent of an automatic payment plan for government operations. Starting September 30, 2025, if Congress hasn't passed a new budget or a temporary funding measure (a Continuing Resolution) by the start of the fiscal year, this Act automatically kicks in to keep the lights on and the essential services running. The key mechanism is an automatic appropriation that funds programs at their previous spending level, renewing every 14 calendar days until a real budget is passed (SEC. 2).

The Automatic Pilot for Paychecks and Pensions

This is the part that hits home for millions of people. If you rely on Social Security, Medicare payments, or are a federal employee wondering if your paycheck will clear, this bill is designed to eliminate that uncertainty. The Act mandates that funding for entitlements and other mandatory payments must continue exactly as required by current law (SEC. 2). For example, a senior expecting their Social Security check on October 1st won't have to worry about a government shutdown delaying it. Furthermore, the automatic funding ensures that operational agencies—from air traffic control to the IRS—continue to function, sparing hundreds of thousands of federal workers the stress of furloughs or working without pay.

The 14-Day Clock and the Guardrails

The funding mechanism is clever: it’s a temporary fix that renews every two weeks (SEC. 2). This gives Congress a buffer without giving them an indefinite vacation. The money spent during this period is later charged against the new, official budget when it finally passes. Crucially, the bill includes guardrails to prevent agencies from using this automatic funding to start massive new projects or spend money irresponsibly. Agencies are specifically blocked from making large initial distributions—like big grants to states or foreign governments—that usually happen at the start of the fiscal year (SEC. 2). This is a necessary check, ensuring that Congress still holds the power of the purse and can set final funding priorities without agencies preempting them.

The Fine Print: Agency Flexibility and Budgetary Sleight of Hand

There is a bit of operational wiggle room for agency heads. They can transfer up to 5% of funds between different accounts within their agency, provided they get approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and only use the money for 'higher-priority activities' (SEC. 2). While this 5% rule allows for quick adjustments during a funding lapse, the term 'higher-priority' is a little vague, giving agency leadership significant discretion—something to watch. On the technical side, the bill includes specific rules (SEC. 3) to ensure that this automatic funding is properly counted under existing budget laws, treating it as a short-term, discretionary appropriation. This keeps the government's budget enforcement rules intact, even during a lapse.

The Real-World Trade-Off

For the average person, this bill means stability. It removes the recurring drama and economic drag of government shutdowns, which have historically caused major headaches for federal contractors, small businesses dependent on federal services, and anyone relying on national parks or federal permits. The trade-off is that Congress loses its most potent tool of leverage: the threat of a shutdown. While this might encourage less brinkmanship, it could also potentially reduce the urgency for lawmakers to negotiate a full, detailed budget on time. For entities that rely on large, early-year grants (like state transportation departments or research institutions), they might face slight delays until the official budget is passed, as the bill restricts those big initial payouts (SEC. 2).