Contact Congress about H.R. 5405: Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2025

If Congress does not pass spending bills on time, most federal programs would keep running under automatic temporary funding. That funding would start below last year’s level and drop more over time. Some benefit programs would be protected from those cuts.

Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2025 is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.

Latest action on H.R. 5405: Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects federal workers, contractors, states, grantees, and people who rely on federal services or benefits. It also directly affects agencies that would have to run programs under a shrinking temporary budget if Congress misses funding deadlines. Some benefit recipients would see more protection than many other programs because certain mandatory programs and Food and Nutrition Act activities would keep full current-law benefit levels.

Why this matters: Government shutdowns can furlough workers, delay services, and create confusion for states, contractors, and families. This bill tries to avoid that by making temporary funding start automatically when Congress misses a deadline. It matters because it could keep much of the government open, but it would do so at less than last year’s funding for many programs. If Congress still does not act, those lower levels could make it harder for agencies to keep services steady.

Key provisions in H.R. 5405

• This bill creates a permanent automatic backup funding rule in title 31 of the U.S. Code. It adds a new section 1311.
• Programs, projects, and activities that got money the year before would keep getting money if no new yearly spending bill or other temporary funding bill is in place.
• Most affected programs would start at 94% of last year’s funding rate. If an earlier temporary funding bill was in effect, the bill uses the matching rate from that law instead.
• Funding would drop by 1 percentage point after each 90-day period without regular spending bills. Those drops could keep going past the end of the fiscal year if Congress still does not act.
• If this automatic funding is still running at the end of a fiscal year, it could keep going into the next one.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 5405

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 5405

What is H.R. 5405?

If Congress does not pass spending bills on time, most federal programs would keep running under automatic temporary funding. That funding would start below last year’s level and drop more over time. Some benefit programs would be protected from those cuts.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 5405?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 5405?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain H.R. 5405 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.