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Pay Federal Workers and Servicemembers Act
3/26/2025, 2:08 AM
Summary of Bill HR 1988
Currently, federal employees who are furloughed during a government shutdown are not eligible for unemployment benefits. This bill seeks to change that by ensuring that these employees, who are still required to work without pay during a shutdown, are able to receive the financial support they need through unemployment compensation.
In addition to providing unemployment benefits to furloughed federal employees, the bill also includes provisions for other purposes related to government shutdowns and furloughs. This includes ensuring that federal employees are not unfairly penalized for being furloughed during a shutdown and that they are able to access the support they need during these challenging times. Overall, Bill 119 hr 1988 aims to provide much-needed financial assistance to federal civilian and military personnel who are furloughed during a government shutdown, ensuring that they are able to receive the support they need to weather these difficult circumstances.
Congressional Summary of HR 1988
Pay Federal Workers and Servicemembers Act
This bill makes federal civilian and military personnel who are excepted from furlough during a government shutdown eligible for unemployment compensation benefits.
During a government shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations, federal employees who are excepted from furlough are required to report for work and perform duties, but their pay is delayed until appropriations legislation is enacted. Under guidance issued by the Department of Labor, excepted employees who are performing services (but whose payment for that work is delayed) are generally ineligible for unemployment compensation benefits based on states' definitions of unemployment.
This bill provides that, for the purpose of determining eligibility for unemployment compensation during a government shutdown, excepted employees are deemed to be (1) totally separated from federal service, and (2) eligible for unemployment compensation benefits with no waiting period for the eligibility to accrue.
The bill applies to the following federal personnel who are excepted from furlough and are not being paid due to a government shutdown: (1) any member of the Armed Forces or the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and (2) any federal civilian employee who is an excepted employee or an employee performing emergency work.
