The Pay Our Capitol Police Act seeks to ensure that officers, employees, and contractors of the Capitol Police are paid during the government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025. For fiscal year 2026, it would appropriate funds out of the Treasury to cover standard pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other payments for Capitol Police personnel during the lapse, and to compensate contractors providing support to those personnel.
The bill also directs that expenditures under this authority be charged to the Capitol Police appropriation as a regular or continuing appropriation becomes law. The funding would be available until the earlier of enactment of Capitol Police appropriations, enactment of legislative branch appropriations without this purpose, or September 30, 2026, and would take effect retroactively to September 30, 2025.
At a Glance
What It Does
The bill creates a temporary funding mechanism for FY2026 to pay Capitol Police staff and contractors during the October 1, 2025 lapse, covering standard pay, benefits, and contractor payments.
Who It Affects
Capitol Police officers and civil staff, plus Capitol Police contractors and the agency’s budgetary operations.
Why It Matters
Maintains security operations and workforce stability during a lapse, reducing disruption and morale risks while the regular appropriations process plays out.
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What This Bill Actually Does
This bill establishes a temporary funding path to keep Capitol Police working and paid during a government shutdown. It directs the Treasury to provide sufficient funds for FY2026 to cover the normal compensation, benefits, and other payments due to Capitol Police officers and employees for the period of the lapse beginning October 1, 2025.
It also authorizes payments to contractors who are providing essential support to the Capitol Police during that period. Payments would be charged to the Capitol Police appropriation once a regular annual appropriation or continuing resolution becomes law.
The authority lasts until the earlier of enactment of Capitol Police appropriations, enactment of a legislative branch appropriation without this purpose, or September 30, 2026, and it has retroactive effect to September 30, 2025.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill appropriates FY2026 funds to pay Capitol Police personnel during the October 1, 2025 lapse.
It authorizes payments to contractors supporting Capitol Police during the lapse.
Expenditures under this act are charged to the Capitol Police appropriation when a regular or continuing appropriation becomes law.
Funding remains available until the earlier of enactment of Capitol Police or legislative branch appropriations, or Sept. 30, 2026.
It retroactively takes effect as of Sept. 30, 2025.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Appropriations to pay officers, employees, and contractors during the lapse
For FY2026, the bill would appropriate from the Treasury, to the Capitol Police, amounts necessary to provide standard pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other payments for officers and employees during the lapse. It also authorizes payments to Capitol Police contractors the Chief determines are providing support during that period. This creates a temporary, explicit funding stream to maintain operations during the shutdown.
Charging of expenditures
Expenditures under subsection (a) would be charged to the Capitol Police appropriation whenever a regular appropriation bill or a continuing appropriations measure for the Capitol Police becomes law. This clarifies which account bears the cost and ensures continuity of funding without requiring a separate funding mechanism at the moment of passage.
Termination
The authority granted in subsection (a) remains available until the earlier of: enactment of Capitol Police appropriations for any purpose, enactment of legislative branch appropriations without this purpose, or September 30, 2026. This sets a firm sunset while preserving funding if normal appropriations are delayed.
Retroactive effective date
The Act takes effect retroactively to September 30, 2025, ensuring that payments owed during the lapse and any retroactive consequences are covered by the statute.
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Who Benefits
- Capitol Police officers on duty during the lapse receive standard pay and benefits, preserving morale and operational capability.
- Capitol Police civilian employees on payroll during the lapse benefit from continued compensation and benefits.
- Capitol Police contractors providing essential support receive approved payments for services rendered during the lapse.
- Capitol Police leadership and budget offices gain a clear, temporary framework to maintain operations without immediate funding gaps.
Who Bears the Cost
- U.S. Treasury general fund taxpayers fund the outlays needed to cover pay and benefits during the lapse.
- Capitol Police budget accounts incur higher obligations for FY2026 during the lapse period.
- Contractors paid under the act are compensated for services rendered during the lapse, representing a direct cost to the agency’s operations.
- The Chief of the Capitol Police and agency financial staff are responsible for administering the new funding mechanism and ensuring proper accounting.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central dilemma is whether a temporary, emergency-funding tool is the right mechanism to preserve security operations during a shutdown without disturbing the regular appropriations process, and how to reconcile retroactive payment needs with ongoing budgetary control.
The bill creates a targeted, temporary funding mechanism that cushions the Capitol Police during a government shutdown. While it provides a clear path to paying personnel and contractors, it raises questions about long-term budget discipline and what happens if shutdowns recur or extend beyond September 30, 2026.
It also relies on the Capitol Police appropriation as the charging vehicle, which concentrates cost within a single account and may affect other authorized uses if funding is tight. Additionally, retroactive coverage could create accounting complexities if payrolls for the lapse were reconciled against other appropriations or supplemental bills.
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