I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5708 
To suspend the enforcement of certain civil liabilities of Federal employees 
and contractors during a lapse in appropriations, or during a breach 
of the statutory debt limit, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 8, 2025 
Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania (for himself, Ms. RANDALL, Ms. MOORE of Wis-
consin, Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, and Ms. SALINAS) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Gov-
ernment Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Serv-
ices, Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and 
House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To suspend the enforcement of certain civil liabilities of 
Federal employees and contractors during a lapse in 
appropriations, or during a breach of the statutory debt 
limit, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Employees 
Civil Relief Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 14, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5708.IH
H5708
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to provide for the tem-
porary suspension of judicial and administrative pro-
ceedings and transactions that may adversely affect the 
civil rights of Federal workers during a shutdown. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY.—The term 
‘‘consumer reporting agency’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 603(f) of the Fair Credit Report-
ing Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a(f)). 
(2) CONTRACTOR.—The term ‘‘contractor’’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 7101 of title 
41, United States Code. 
(3) COURT; JUDGMENT; STATE.—The terms 
‘‘court’’, ‘‘judgment’’, and ‘‘State’’ have the mean-
ings given those terms in section 101 of the 
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3911). 
(4) COVERED PERIOD.—The term ‘‘covered pe-
riod’’ means the period beginning on the date on 
which a shutdown begins and ending on the date 
that is 30 days after the date on which that shut-
down ends. 
(5) FEDERAL
WORKER.—The term ‘‘Federal 
worker’’— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 14, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5708.IH
H5708
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(A) means an employee of a Government 
agency; and 
(B) includes an employee of a contractor. 
(6) GOVERNMENT AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Gov-
ernment agency’’ means each authority of the execu-
tive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government 
of the United States. 
(7) SHUTDOWN.—The term ‘‘shutdown’’ means 
any period in which— 
(A) there is more than a 24-hour lapse in 
appropriations for any Government agency or 
Federal department as a result of a failure to 
enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing 
resolution; or 
(B) the debt of the United States Govern-
ment is greater than the statutory limit under 
section 3101 of title 31, United States Code. 
SEC. 4. JURISDICTION. 
(a) JURISDICTION.—This Act shall apply to— 
(1) the United States; 
(2) each of the States, including each political 
subdivision of a State; and 
(3) all territory that is subject to the jurisdic-
tion of the United States. 
(b) APPLICABILITY TO PROCEEDINGS.—This Act— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 14, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5708.IH
H5708
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(1) shall apply to any judicial or administrative 
proceeding that is commenced in any court or agen-
cy in any jurisdiction that is subject to this Act; and 
(2) shall not apply to criminal proceedings or 
with respect to child support payments. 
(c) COURT
IN
WHICH
APPLICATION
MAY
BE 
MADE.—When, under this Act, any application is required 
to be made to a court in which no proceeding has already 
been commenced with respect to a matter, that application 
may be made to any court that would otherwise have juris-
diction over the matter. 
(d) NOTIFICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of the Government 
agency that employs a Federal worker, or at which 
a Federal worker performs services, as applicable, 
shall provide the Federal worker with written notice 
regarding the benefits provided under this Act— 
(A) on the date on which the individual be-
comes a Federal worker; and 
(B) periodically after the date described in 
subparagraph (A), including on the date on 
which any shutdown begins. 
(2) LEGISLATIVE
AND
JUDICIAL
BRANCH.— 
With respect to a Federal worker in a Government 
agency in the legislative branch or judicial branch 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 14, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5708.IH
H5708
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(or, in the case of a Federal worker who is an em-
ployee of a contractor, who provides services at a 
Government agency in the legislative branch or judi-
cial branch), the officer or employee at the Govern-
ment agency who has the final authority to appoint, 
hire, discharge, and set the terms, conditions, or 
privileges of the employment of the Federal worker 
shall provide the notice required under paragraph 
(1). 
SEC. 5. ANTICIPATORY RELIEF. 
A Federal worker who is furloughed or required to 
work without pay during a shutdown may apply to a court 
for a temporary stay, postponement, or suspension with 
respect to any payment of rent, mortgage, tax, fine, pen-
alty, insurance premium, student loan repayment, or other 
civil obligation or liability that the Federal worker or indi-
vidual, as applicable, owes or would owe during the dura-
tion of the shutdown. 
SEC. 6. EVICTIONS. 
(a) COURT-ORDERED EVICTION.—Except by the 
order of a court, a landlord may not, during a shutdown— 
(1) evict a Federal worker from premises that 
are occupied or intended to be occupied primarily as 
a residence; or 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 14, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5708.IH
H5708
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(2) subject premises described in paragraph (1) 
to a distress. 
(b) STAY OF EXECUTION.— 
(1) COURT AUTHORITY.—Upon an application 
for eviction or distress with respect to premises de-
scribed in subsection (a)(1), a court may, upon mo-
tion of the court, and shall, if a request is made by 
or on behalf of a Federal worker, the ability of 
whom to pay the rent that is the subject of the ac-
tion is materially affected by a shutdown— 
(A) stay the proceedings for a period of 30 
days, unless, in the opinion of the court, justice 
and equity require a longer or shorter period of 
time; or 
(B) adjust the obligation under the lease to 
preserve the interests of all parties. 
(2) RELIEF TO LANDLORD.—If a court grants 
a stay under paragraph (1), the court may grant to 
the landlord (or other person with paramount title) 
such relief as equity may require. 
(c) MISDEMEANOR.—Except as provided in sub-
section (a), a person that knowingly takes part in an evic-
tion or distress described in that subsection, or that know-
ingly attempts to take part in an eviction or distress de-
scribed in that subsection, shall be fined as provided in 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 14, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5708.IH
H5708
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more 
than 1 year, or both. 
SEC. 7. MORTGAGE PROTECTION AND FORECLOSURES. 
(a) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘covered 
action’’ means an action relating to an obligation— 
(1) with respect to real or personal property 
owned by a Federal worker; and 
(2) that— 
(A) originated before the date on which a 
shutdown begins; 
(B) is in effect on the date on which a 
shutdown begins; and 
(C) is secured by a mortgage, trust deed, 
or other security in the nature of a mortgage. 
(b) STAY OF PROCEEDINGS AND ADJUSTMENT OF 
OBLIGATION.—If a covered action is filed in a court dur-
ing a covered period, the court may, after a hearing and 
upon the motion of the court, and shall, upon application 
by the Federal worker if the ability of the Federal worker 
to comply with the covered obligation is materially affected 
by the shutdown— 
(1) stay the proceedings for a period of time as 
justice and equity require; or 
(2) adjust the obligation to preserve the inter-
ests of all parties. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 14, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5708.IH
H5708
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(c) SALE OR FORECLOSURE.—A sale, foreclosure, or 
seizure of property for a breach of an obligation described 
in subsection (a) by a Federal worker shall not be valid 
if made during a covered period except upon the order of 
a court that is granted before that sale, foreclosure, or 
seizure, as applicable, with a return made and approved 
by the court. 
(d) MISDEMEANOR.—A person that knowingly makes 
or causes to be made a sale, foreclosure, or seizure of prop-
erty that is prohibited under subsection (c), or that know-
ingly attempts to make or cause to be made a sale, fore-
closure, or seizure of property that is prohibited under 
that subsection, shall be fined as provided in title 18, 
United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 1 
year, or both. 
SEC. 8. LIENS. 
(a) LIENS.— 
(1) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘‘lien’’ includes— 
(A) a lien— 
(i) for storage, repair, or cleaning of 
the property or effects of a Federal work-
er; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 14, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5708.IH
H5708
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS