US Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX-19) have reintroduced the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025. The bill aims to prevent government shutdowns by requiring Congress to remain in Washington, DC, until appropriations work is complete.
Lankford emphasized the need for a change in federal spending practices, citing the national debt exceeding $37 trillion. “We have to change the way Washington spends money. Our debt is now more than $37 trillion. Congress cannot keep avoiding the hard choices to fix it,” said Lankford. “Shutting down the government does not fix the debt problem, it just makes it worse. The best way to finish negotiating the hard issue is to keep Congress in Washington until the budget is finished. That puts the pressure on lawmakers, not on families and important services.”
Arrington highlighted how current shutdown practices affect Americans. “In the real world, if you fail to do your job, there are consequences. Yet, when Congress fails to pass appropriations on time, the burden falls squarely on hardworking Americans – taxpayers, seniors, and our men and women in uniform,” said Arrington. “My Prevent Government Shutdowns Act is commonsense legislation that would shift the burden of a shutdown away from We the People and onto the politicians where it belongs – by forcing Members of Congress to stay in Washington until their work on appropriations is complete.”
Other Senate co-sponsors include John Barrasso (R-WY), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Budd (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Katie Britt (R-AL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA).
The bill was first introduced in February 2019. It mandates that if appropriations are not completed on schedule, all members of Congress must remain in Washington until spending bills are passed. This approach seeks to avoid government-wide shutdowns while ensuring critical services continue and protecting federal workers from being penalized during delays.
If funding lapses occur, an automatic continuing resolution would take effect for rolling 14-day periods based on prior year spending levels. During this period, congressional activity would be limited only to appropriations bills or mandatory quorum calls unless certain exceptions apply after 30 days under a continuing resolution.
Further details about restrictions under these circumstances include limiting other legislative business except for specific expiring authorizations or nominations after 30 days; such restrictions can be waived temporarily with a two-thirds vote.
Full text of the bill and related coverage can be found online:
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