Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026

Federal programs would keep running automatically if Congress fails to pass funding on time, replacing a government shutdown with a built-in stopgap. Under a new automatic continuing appropriations rule (added to budget law as Section 1311 of Title 31), agencies would keep spending at the prior year's rate in 14-day blocks that renew until full-year funding or a regular stopgap (continuing resolution = a temporary funding patch at existing levels) is enacted. Entitlements, other mandatory payments, and food assistance under SNAP would continue at the levels current law requires. To pressure lawmakers to finish the budget, taxpayer- and campaign-funded official travel would be cut off for Members of Congress, their staff, and Office of Management and Budget officials during these automatic-funding periods, with narrow exceptions for returning to Washington, travel within the capital region, and national-security responses. The House and Senate would also be barred from taking up most non-appropriations business, limited to recesses or adjournments of no more than 23 hours, and required to hold daily quorum checks until the spending bills pass. Those floor restrictions could be set aside for at most 7 days and only by a two-thirds vote. Federal workers, agencies, and the public who rely on federal services would be the groups most affected.