Capitol Police Salaries Guaranteed During Government Shutdowns Under New USCP Act

The Uninterrupted Salaries for Capitol Police Act (or USCP Act) is a straightforward piece of legislation designed to prevent one specific group of federal employees from feeling the financial squeeze during a government shutdown. Essentially, this bill ensures that employees of the United States Capitol Police (USCP) will continue to receive their salaries and expenses without interruption, even when Congress fails to pass regular spending bills.

The Shutdown Safety Net

This bill cuts right to the chase in Section 2, which is titled “Providing for salaries of United States Capitol Police during Government shutdown.” It immediately appropriates the "necessary funds" from the Treasury to cover the USCP’s salaries and expenses during any period when discretionary appropriations lapse. If you’ve ever followed the messy, last-minute budget negotiations in D.C., you know that a lapse in funding—a government shutdown—is a recurring headache. While essential personnel like the Capitol Police are always required to work during a shutdown, their paychecks are often delayed until funding is restored.

What This Means for the Force and the Rest of Us

For the USCP officers and staff, this change is huge. It removes the stress of wondering how to pay the mortgage or childcare bills while working without a guaranteed paycheck. This is a clear win for the morale and financial stability of the individuals tasked with securing the Capitol complex. When those officers are focused on security instead of their bank accounts, everyone benefits from better protection.

However, it's worth noting who isn't covered. This bill specifically targets the USCP. During a typical shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees—from TSA agents and Border Patrol officers to workers at the National Parks and various regulatory agencies—are either furloughed or forced to work without pay. This bill creates a carve-out, ensuring one essential security force is paid, while countless others who also perform critical functions still face financial uncertainty. While understandable given the USCP’s role in protecting the Legislative Branch, it highlights the uneven financial burden of a shutdown across the federal workforce.

The Bigger Picture of Funding

Another detail to keep in mind is the funding source. The bill dictates that the money comes directly from the Treasury. While this ensures the police get paid, it doesn’t involve offsetting the cost elsewhere. Every time the government spends money directly from the Treasury without an immediate, corresponding revenue source, it contributes to the deficit, even if it’s for a necessary expense like security. For taxpayers, this means the cost of keeping the Capitol Police paid during a shutdown is simply added to the national debt during that period. In short, this bill solves a personnel problem without solving the underlying budget problem, essentially making sure the Capitol’s security is always guaranteed, regardless of budget brinkmanship.