Contact Congress about H.R. 5816: HELP FEDs Act
Federal workers would not face new student loan interest, late fees, or credit damage if a shutdown stops their pay. The protection would apply to qualifying shutdown-related pay disruptions on or after October 1, 2025. Borrowers would still have to repay their loans.
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HELP FEDs Act is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Latest action on H.R. 5816: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects federal workers who have federal student loans and lose pay during a government shutdown. It also affects the Department of Education, loan servicers, credit reporting companies, and federal personnel offices that would help identify covered workers and carry out the rules.
Why this matters: A shutdown can leave federal workers without pay even though they did not cause the problem. If they miss student loan payments, they can face extra costs and credit damage. This bill would limit that harm for covered federal workers. The larger cost to the student loan program is not clear from the bill text.
Key provisions in H.R. 5816
- The bill covers federal student loans under the Higher Education Act. That includes loans held by the Department of Education or managed by its contracted loan servicers.
- The bill applies only when a funding lapse stops government operations and disrupts federal workers’ pay. This is tied to the Anti-Deficiency Act, a law that limits federal spending without approved funding.
- Loan servicers could not charge late fees or penalties for covered missed payments. They also could not take other harmful action during the shutdown-related pay disruption.
- Covered federal workers would not build up extra interest on their covered loans. This pause would last during the pay disruption period.
- The Secretary of Education would have to protect workers’ credit reports. Missed or delayed payments during the covered disruption could not be reported as negative credit information.
How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 5816
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. 5816
- What is H.R. 5816?
- Federal workers would not face new student loan interest, late fees, or credit damage if a shutdown stops their pay. The protection would apply to qualifying shutdown-related pay disruptions on or after October 1, 2025. Borrowers would still have to repay their loans.
- How do I support or oppose H.R. 5816?
- 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. 5816?
- 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. 5816 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
