During the government shutdown that began October 1, 2025, Capitol Police officers, staff, and contractors kept working without knowing when their next paycheck would arrive, because the agency's funding had lapsed along with the rest of the legislative branch. This bill appropriates whatever money is necessary to pay Capitol Police officers and employees their normal wages, allowances, and benefits, and to pay contractors who support them, for the period covered by the funding lapse. The retroactive funding would apply back to September 30, 2025, and would stay available until Congress passes regular or continuing funding for the Capitol Police, until legislative branch funding is enacted without money for this purpose, or until September 30, 2026, whichever happens first. Once regular appropriations become law, the money spent under this bill gets charged back against that normal funding.
Congressional Summary
Pay Our Capitol Police ActThis bill provides FY2026 continuing appropriations for the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) to pay and provide benefits for employees who are working during the government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, due to a lapse in appropriations. Specifically, the bill provides the appropriations to the USCP for the pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other payments otherwise payable on a regular basis to all USCP officers and employees for work performed during the shutdown.The bill also provides appropriations for payments to USCP contractors who are providing support to USCP officers and employees who are working during the shutdown.The appropriations are available until the earlier of (1) the enactment into law of legislation to provide FY2026 appropriations for the USCP or the legislative branch (including continuing appropriations), or (2) September 30, 2026.The bill must take effect as if it had been enacted on September 30, 2025.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-11-03
- Date Added
- 2026-07-02
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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