S.499 - Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
The Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2025 aims to amend Title 31 of the United States Code to establish automatic continuing resolutions (CRs). This would prevent government shutdowns by ensuring that funding for programs, projects, and activities continues automatically if appropriation acts are not enacted on time. The bill introduces a mechanism for automatic funding at a reduced rate (94% initially), with further reductions over time if a full-year appropriation is not passed.
Expected Effects
The primary effect would be the avoidance of government shutdowns, which can disrupt government services and negatively impact the economy. By providing automatic CRs, the bill seeks to ensure the continuity of government operations even in the absence of timely appropriations. However, the reduced funding levels could lead to decreased services and program effectiveness over time.
Potential Benefits
- Prevents Government Shutdowns: Ensures continuity of government services and avoids disruptions.
- Provides Budgetary Stability: Offers a degree of predictability for government agencies and programs.
- Reduces Political Uncertainty: Mitigates the impact of political gridlock on government funding.
- Maintains Essential Services: Allows critical programs to continue operating, even without approved appropriations.
- Offers a degree of bi-partisan compromise: The bill may incentivize compromise by providing a default funding mechanism.
Potential Disadvantages
- Reduced Funding Levels: Automatic CRs operate at a reduced rate (94%), potentially impacting program effectiveness.
- Decreasing Funding Over Time: Further reductions in funding over time (1 percentage point per 90-day period) could lead to significant cuts.
- Impingement on Final Funding Prerogatives: Limits the ability to make changes to funding priorities and allocations.
- Potential for Inefficiency: Automatic CRs may perpetuate existing programs without proper evaluation or adjustments.
- Reduced Incentive for Timely Appropriations: May reduce the pressure on Congress to pass full-year appropriations on time.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's attempt to ensure the continuity of government operations aligns with the Constitution's broader goals of ensuring domestic tranquility and promoting the general welfare, as stated in the Preamble. Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 states that "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law." This bill seeks to provide a legal mechanism for appropriations in the absence of regular appropriation bills, potentially aligning with the spirit of this clause while altering the traditional process. However, the automatic nature of the appropriations could be viewed as an encroachment on Congress's power of the purse, as it reduces the need for active decision-making on appropriations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).