H.R. 9828: Federal Employee Financial Protection Act of 2026

This bill would change federal credit reporting rules so that certain missed or late payments caused by a federal government shutdown would not hurt the credit reports of affected federal workers.

What counts as a covered worker and covered period

The bill applies to federal employees who are furloughed or required to work without pay during a lapse in government funding. It covers the time period when that funding lapse delays their pay.

Effect on credit reports

During that shutdown-related period, a consumer reporting agency would be barred from including in a consumer report any negative information tied to a late payment or missed payment on one of these workers’ accounts if the missed payment happened because of the shutdown.

In practice, the bill says those late or missed payments must be treated as if the payment had been made on time for credit reporting purposes.

Rulemaking

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau would have to issue rules within 30 days of enactment to implement the changes.

Private lenders

The bill also expresses Congress’s view that private lenders should:

• offer temporary forbearance or payment flexibility to affected federal employees,
• waive late fees and penalties during the shutdown-related period, and
• avoid reporting negative credit information tied to shutdown-related missed payments.

This part is a statement of congressional intent rather than a direct legal requirement.

Relevant Companies

None found