U.S. Senators Katie Britt, James Lankford, Colleagues Introduce the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) joined Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) and several of their Senate Republican colleagues in reintroducing the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025. This legislation would end the practice of government shutdowns, mandating that Congress stay in session until the government is funded.

"Alabamians sent me to the Senate to work on their behalf and deliver results- not participate in the business-as-usual practices that have led to an unsustainable national deficit and even more out-of-control spending. Government shutdowns benefit no one and are often used as a political threat to prevent us from reining in spending, ultimately continuing the same irresponsible policies that created this mess in the first place. We must make Washington work again, and this bill is a step in the right direction," said Senator Britt.

Under this legislation, if Congress does not enact all 12 appropriations bills on time, an automatic 14-day continuing resolution (CR) would be triggered on rolling basis, keeping funding at the previous fiscal year's levels. This will prevent government shutdowns all together and ensure critical services and federal operations continue undisrupted.

"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 Senator 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."

If the federal government is operating under the automatic CRs, members of Congress must hold daily sessions on the Floor (including weekends) and would be prohibited from using any official funds for travel. These limitations would remain in place until Congress either enacts all appropriations bills or a long-term CR. The travel restrictions would also apply to congressional staff and officials from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Senator Britt also cosponsored this legislation in the 118^th Congress. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) are also cosponsors of the bill. U.S. House of Representatives Budget Chairman Jody Arrington (R-Texas) is leading this legislation in the House.

To read the full bill text, click here.

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