S. 2721 — Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025

This section establishes automatic continuing appropriations under new 31 U.S.C. §1311 for federal programs, projects, and activities during a lapse in appropriations (i.e., when no full-year or continuing appropriation act is enacted for the current fiscal year for an activity previously funded). If a lapse occurs on or after the first day of a fiscal year, it provides such sums as necessary at the rate for operations from the preceding applicable appropriation act (i.e., the most recent continuing resolution or prior full-year act), under the same authorities and conditions, for 14 calendar days; this authority extends in additional 14-calendar-day periods if the lapse continues. For entitlements, other mandatory payments, and activities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, funding is at the rate necessary to maintain program levels under current law. Funding is available from the first day of a lapse until enactment of a full-year or continuing appropriation act for the account (even if it provides no funding); subsequent expenditures are charged to that act. It waives time limits for apportionments under 31 U.S.C. §1513 but requires the most limited funding actions possible; prohibits high initial distributions or grants for certain programs (e.g., to states or grantees) that could affect final funding; does not apply if another law provides or prohibits funding; and allows agency heads, with Office of Management and Budget approval, to transfer up to 5% of such funds between agency appropriation accounts.

This section establishes restrictions during periods of automatic continuing appropriations ("covered periods") to prioritize timely enactment of appropriations. It prohibits official travel by covered officers or employees—defined as Office of Management and Budget personnel, Members of Congress, and congressional personal, committee, or joint committee staff—except for a single return trip to the seat of government if away at the start of a covered period, travel within the National Capital Region, or travel related to a national security event triggering continuity protocols. It further amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit use of campaign funds for such official travel during covered periods (with a return-to-D.C. exception). In the Senate and House of Representatives during covered periods, it deems out of order motions to proceed to any matter other than fiscal-year appropriations measures, quorum calls, reconciliation bills or resolutions under section 310 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 641), public debt limit measures, President-declared emergencies or disasters, or—on or after the 30th calendar day of a covered period—nominations to Executive Schedule level I positions, Chief Justice, or Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, or measures extending (without substantive change) expiring programs, projects, or activities lacking fiscal-year appropriations. It also prohibits motions to recess or adjourn for more than 23 hours and requires convening at noon each day (or immediately after any constructive convening).

This section classifies the budgetary effects of this Act and its amendments as discretionary appropriation acts for purposes of sequestration enforcement under section 251 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901). It further directs that budgetary resources provided under new section 1311 of title 31, United States Code (automatic continuing appropriations during lapses in appropriations), shall be treated as (1) continuing appropriations in effect for less than the entire current year for baseline calculations under section 257 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 907); and (2) part-year appropriations for sequestration calculations under section 251(a)(4) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 901(a)(4)). Additionally, this section sets the due date for any required OMB final sequestration report under section 254(f) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 904(f)) during a lapse in appropriations as the later of the date specified in section 251(a)(1) or 30 calendar days after the lapse begins.