Contact Congress about H.R. 5843: Shutdown Student Loans for Feds Act

If a government shutdown lasts two weeks or more, affected federal employees and some contractors could stop making student loan payments without penalty. Interest wouldn't build up, forgiveness timelines would stay on track, and credit scores wouldn't take a hit.

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.

Shutdown Student Loans for 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. 5843: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Who this affects: This bill targets federal employees across all three branches of government and certain contractors who support them. It only applies to workers who actually lose their pay or work during a shutdown. Anyone still getting their normal paycheck is not covered.

Why this matters: Government shutdowns can leave hundreds of thousands of workers without paychecks, making it hard to cover bills like student loan payments. Missing payments can mean growing loan balances, damaged credit scores, and lost progress toward loan forgiveness. This bill aims to remove that financial pressure during shutdowns.

Key provisions in H.R. 5843

• The bill covers federal employees and certain contractors who lose their usual pay or work during a funding gap of at least 14 days at their agency.
• It applies to Direct federal student loans made under part D of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
• The Secretary of Education must pause all required loan payments for covered workers during qualifying shutdown periods in fiscal year 2026 and beyond.
• Interest cannot build up on affected loans while payments are paused.
• Each month of suspended payments must count as a qualifying payment toward any Direct Loan forgiveness program the borrower is enrolled in.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 5843

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. 5843

What is H.R. 5843?

If a government shutdown lasts two weeks or more, affected federal employees and some contractors could stop making student loan payments without penalty. Interest wouldn't build up, forgiveness timelines would stay on track, and credit scores wouldn't take a hit.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 5843?

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. 5843?

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. 5843 before I act?

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