U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) has joined Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and 19 other senators in introducing the True Shutdown Fairness Act, a bill designed to ensure that all federal employees, including those furloughed and those required to work, as well as servicemembers and federal contractors, continue to receive pay during the ongoing government shutdown. The legislation would also prevent the administration from conducting mass firings, known as Reductions in Force (RIFs), while the government remains closed.
Senator Hirono stated, “Every day, federal workers help to keep the government functioning—protecting our communities and keeping our country safe and healthy. Our federal employees should not be unjustly punished during a government shutdown that they had no part in. While Trump wants to pick and choose who gets paid during Republicans’ government shutdown, I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation to ensure that ALL federal workers, contractors, and servicemembers are treated fairly and receive the pay they rightfully deserve.”
The bill proposes the immediate restoration of pay for all impacted federal workers, servicemembers, and contractors during the shutdown. It also prohibits any Reductions In Force from being carried out while the shutdown is ongoing. Under current law, the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act ensures that federal employees receive retroactive pay once a shutdown concludes.
The legislation has received endorsements from several labor organizations, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), Partnership for Public Service, and the AFL-CIO.
Alongside Senators Hirono and Van Hollen, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Angela Alsobrooks, Richard Blumenthal, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Chris Coons, Tammy Duckworth, Dick Durbin, Ruben Gallego, Martin Heinrich, Tim Kaine, Mark Kelly, Andy Kim, Ed Markey, Patty Murray, Alex Padilla, Gary Peters, Ben Ray Lujan, Bernie Sanders, Brian Schatz, Tina Smith, Mark Warner, Raphael Warnock, Elizabeth Warren, and Peter Welch.
The full text of the legislation is available here.
