U.S. Sen. Katie Britt is pushing the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026, reintroducing the bipartisan legislation that would eliminate government shutdowns by forcing every member of Congress to stay in Washington until spending bills are done.
“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,” Britt (R-Montgomery) said.
“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.”
Under the bill, if Congress fails to pass appropriations on time, an automatic 14-day continuing resolution kicks in on a rolling basis at the prior fiscal year’s spending levels.
Members of Congress, their staffs, and White House budget officials would be barred from official travel, and no votes would be in order except those moving appropriations forward. The restrictions can only be waived by a two-thirds vote in either chamber.
Britt has been out in front of this issue longer than most. She voluntarily withheld her own congressional paycheck during both the first full government shutdown of the 119th Congress and a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. She also supports the No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act, which would withhold congressional pay during shutdowns.
The bill, led by Britt alongside Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), has cleared a wide bipartisan coalition — 20 Senate cosponsors total. Lankford noted the bill came within three votes of passing in a previous Congress.
A broad coalition of federal worker organizations and fiscal watchdog groups has signed on in support.
Sawyer Knowles is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].
