Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC-01) has reintroduced the Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2025 as Congress approaches the September 30 deadline for passing fiscal year 2026 appropriations. The legislation aims to prevent government shutdowns by removing their use as leverage in budget negotiations and to encourage more responsible budgeting without negative impacts on taxpayers, servicemembers, or federal workers.
If enacted, the bill would implement automatic continuing resolutions at 94% of the previous year’s funding level if Congress fails to meet its budget deadlines. For every additional 90 days lawmakers do not act, funding would decrease by another 1%, creating further pressure for Congress to complete its appropriations work.
“Shutdowns cost billions, reward dysfunction, and push Congress into passing bloated omnibus packages at the last minute,” said Congresswoman Mace. “This bill flips the script and protects taxpayers, cuts spending, and forces Congress to finally do its job.”
The proposal differs from temporary stopgap measures that often postpone resolution of budget disputes. Instead, it is designed to restore fiscal discipline and provide certainty for businesses, federal workers, and military families while ensuring lawmakers are held accountable for failing to pass a budget on time.
“This bill is about ending reckless spending by ending reckless behavior,” Mace added. “It makes Congress live within its means, just like every American family has to.”
Nancy Mace has represented South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District since 2021 after serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2018 to 2020. She was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 1977 and lives in Charleston. Mace graduated from The Citadel in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
