Elfreth, Alsobrooks Introduce Legislation to Help Federal Workers During Shutdowns
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) and Senator Angela Alsobrooks (MD-D) introduced the Help Federal Employees During Shutdowns (Help FEDS) Act. The bill ensures federal employees who are required to work during a government shutdown are eligible to apply for unemployment insurance (UI).
“Government funding runs out in less than 32 hours, and over half of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. If Congress can’t avert a shutdown, that doesn’t mean our constituents should have to suffer. The Help Federal Workers During Shutdowns Act is a small but meaningful fix to allow essential federal workers to be eligible for unemployment insurance during shutdowns,” said Congresswoman Elfreth (MD-03). “If we are asking these essential employees to go without pay and to keep providing their lifesaving services to the American people, the least we can do is provide them with some temporary financial support during these uncertain times.”
When there is a government shutdown, federal employees who are deemed “excepted” or “essential” are required to work without pay. The President and OMB Director have wide discretion over how many federal employees may be deemed essential. During the last government shutdown, when the Trump Administration was in charge, 420,000 federal employees were deemed essential, meaning that 420,000 were forced to work without pay.
The Help FEDS (Federal Employees During a Shutdown) Act ensures federal employees who are required to work during a government shutdown are eligible to apply for unemployment insurance (UI). Essential employees will receive back pay thanks to legislation that Congress passed after the 2018/2019 shutdown. Under this bill, employees would have to pay back the UI when they receive back pay, and states will be reimbursed for the additional UI they would have to pay out. Furloughed employees during a shutdown are already eligible for UI. Elfreth’s legislation closes a loophole and puts excepted employees in parity with furloughed employees.
“Government shutdowns are deeply harmful to our country and to the civil servants who provide essential services the American people rely on. While our ultimate goal must be to prevent shutdowns entirely, Congress has a responsibility to shield public servants from the worst impacts when funding does lapse. Furloughed employees are already eligible for unemployment insurance, yet federal employees who are deemed essential and must still report to work face the same uncertainty of delayed paychecks – but with no safety net. Our legislation would extend unemployment insurance to these essential workers, ensuring they can continue paying their bills while serving the American people,” said Congressman Don Beyer (VA-08).
“The Trump Administration has waged a crusade against our federal workers since January, and Russell Vought is taking advantage of the looming shutdown in order to further villainize and traumatize the federal workforce,” said Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD-05). “I have seen how government shutdowns put intense strains on our federal workers, which is why I am proud to co-sponsor a bill with my friend, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth, to ensure essential federal civilian employees have the resources they need to stay afloat in the event of a shutdown.”
Senator Alsobrooks introduced accompanying legislation in the Senate alongside Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD-D).
“President Trump, Elon Musk, and Russ Vought have shown us very clearly over the last 9 months that they do not care about our civil servants – the patriotic men and women that work on behalf of the American people under Democratic and Republican presidents alike. I will fight with all that I have to ensure our civil servants continue to be paid even if Republicans shut down the government because of their own incompetence,” said Senator Angela Alsobrooks (MD-D).
“Our patriotic, merit-based civil servants work on behalf of the American people every day, delivering essential public services for our country. They should not have to bear the brunt of a political dispute they have nothing to do with, which is why we are fighting to provide them with an economic lifeline should Republicans force a government shutdown,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD-D).
“Federal employees, through no fault of their own, are caught in the middle of a political dispute that could force them to go to work without knowing when they will be paid. The Help FEDS Act would provide these nonpartisan civil servants with vital resources to help keep gas in their cars, provide food and necessary medicines for their family and give them peace of mind as they navigate a period of immense financial uncertainty while delivering essential services Americans depend on. I applaud Senator Alsobrooks and Rep. Elfreth for their efforts to help ease the burden placed on these dedicated public servants and for their leadership on this issue,” said Doreen Greenwald, NTEU National President.
Elfreth is the proud daughter of two civil servants and represents over 44,000 federal workers in Maryland’s Third District. She has taken swift action and spoken out forcefully against President Trump and Elon Musk’s attempts to gut the civil service. Elfreth’s first piece of legislation was the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to support probationary employees, and she dedicated her first floor speech to the federal workers she represents.
Elfreth voted against House Republicans’ seven-week government funding bill, and instead supports House and Senate Democrats’ funding bill, which would place checks on the President’s powers and address our nation’s health care crisis.
The full bill text is available HERE. In the House, the legislation is co-sponsored by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Don Beyer (VA-08), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Danny Davis (IL-07), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Eleanor Norton (DC-AL), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Emily Randall (WA-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), and George Whitesides (CA-27).
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