H.R. 5787 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Oct 17, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryHalts White House construction during government shutdowns
When the federal government runs out of funding and shuts down, this bill would stop most construction and renovation work at the White House and its grounds. The only exception is work that directly relates to health or safety—like fixing a dangerous electrical system. The goal is to prevent federal money from being spent on these projects when normal government operations have paused.
How it affects you
This mostly affects federal employees and contractors who would work on White House building projects. For the average person, it's a measure about how the government manages its own facilities during funding gaps, rather than something that changes your daily life directly.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Oct 17, 2025)
White House Building Activities Locked-out in Lapse Act or the BALL Act
This bill prohibits federal funds from being used for construction or renovation in the White House, on White House grounds, or within any structure on White House grounds during a lapse in appropriations for a fiscal year (i.e., government shutdown) unless the construction or renovation is directly related to matters of health or safety.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 5787
A BILL
BALL Act
Sponsor: Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA-39) · Introduced Oct 17, 2025 · Government Operations and Politics · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Dec 1, 2025: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.”