S. 3168 — Shutdown Fairness Act

This section appropriates such sums as necessary, for FY2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, to provide standard employee compensation to covered employees and covered contract employees of each federal agency during any lapse in regular appropriations. It requires agency heads to pay covered employees for the period beginning October 1, 2025, and ending on the date of enactment as soon as practicable but no later than 7 days after enactment, without regard to furlough status or scheduled pay dates, and to make payments on regular pay dates for any subsequent lapse; the appropriations terminate upon enactment of full-year or continuing appropriations that either provide or omit funding for these purposes.