This bill establishes a $50 million reserve fund to ensure the U.S. Capitol Police can continue paying salaries and necessary expenses during a lapse in appropriations.
Cory Mills
Representative
FL-7
This bill establishes the United States Capitol Police Reserve Fund with an initial appropriation of $50 million. The fund is specifically designed to ensure the payment of Capitol Police salaries and necessary expenses during any lapse in the agency's regular appropriations. Any remaining funds must be returned to the Treasury by early 2027, followed by a required usage report to Congress.
Capitol Police Reserve Fund Act Sets Aside $50 Million to Protect Officer Paychecks During Government Shutdowns
The United States Capitol Police Reserve Fund Act of 2026 creates a financial safety net for the officers who guard the halls of Congress. Specifically, it carves out $50 million from the U.S. Treasury to establish a dedicated 'Reserve Fund.' This money is strictly earmarked to cover salaries and essential operational costs if the government hits a budget stalemate and enters a funding lapse. It ensures that the men and women in uniform aren't working for IOUs while the people they protect are debating the national budget.
Keeping the Lights On and the Paychecks Coming
Under Section 2 of the bill, the Chief of the Capitol Police can tap into these funds only when regular appropriations have dried up. This isn't a slush fund for extra gear or new projects; it’s a rainy-day account designed for the specific purpose of keeping the department functional and its employees paid during a shutdown. For an officer who has a mortgage to pay or a family to feed, this provision removes the stress of a 'zero-dollar' pay statement that often accompanies federal budget drama. The Capitol Police Board must sign off on any withdrawal, adding a layer of internal oversight to ensure the money is used exactly as intended.
Use It or Lose It
The bill includes a clear expiration date to prevent this money from sitting in a drawer indefinitely. Any funds that aren't spent by December 31, 2026, must be returned to the Treasury by the end of January 2027. This 'use it or lose it' clause ensures that the $50 million doesn't become a permanent off-books budget. Once the money is returned, the Chief has a 30-day window to hand over a full receipt to Congress, detailing every transaction made during the lapse. This creates a transparent paper trail for taxpayers to see exactly how their money was used to bridge the gap.
Clear Rules for the Road Ahead
Because the bill’s language is quite specific, there isn't much room for creative accounting. By defining 'appropriate congressional committees' and setting hard deadlines for reporting, the act keeps the process on a short leash. While 'necessary expenses' is a somewhat broad term, the requirement to report back to four different oversight committees in the House and Senate acts as a significant deterrent against using the fund for anything other than keeping the peace and paying the staff. For the average citizen, this means the security of the Capitol remains stable without adding a permanent, unchecked line item to the federal deficit.