S. 3066: Pay the People Act

This bill, known as the Pay the People Act, aims to ensure that federal employees, as well as certain contractors and active-duty military members, continue to receive their pay and benefits during periods when the government does not have approved appropriations in place. Here’s a breakdown of its main points:

Definitions

• Agency: Refers to any authority within the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of the U.S. government.
• Covered Individuals: Includes federal employees, contractors who support these employees, and active-duty members of the Armed Forces.

Appropriations for Federal Employees

The bill proposes that for fiscal year 2026 and subsequent years, if there is a lapse in funding (i.e., when interim or full-year appropriations are not in effect for any agency), then:

• There should be appropriated funds to cover standard pay rates, allowances, and other benefits for covered individuals.
• These funds will be drawn from the U.S. Treasury from money that hasn't been previously allocated.

Termination of Appropriations

The appropriated funds would be available until one of the following occurs:

• The enactment of new appropriations for the agency that covers the needed expenses until the end of the fiscal year.
• The enactment of new appropriations that do not cover these expenses.

Restrictions on Obligations

The bill specifies that the appropriated funds cannot be obligated during times when continuing appropriations are already in effect for the agency.

Retroactive Effective Date

The provisions of this bill would be effective as if they had been enacted on September 30, 2025.

Relevant Companies

None found.