H.R. 5816 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Education and Workforce, Oct 24, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryWaives student loan penalties during government shutdowns
When a government shutdown causes federal employees to miss paychecks, this bill protects their student loans from late fees, penalties, and other consequences. It also prevents extra interest from being added during the shutdown period, and stops negative information from being reported to credit agencies during that time.
How it affects you
If you're a federal employee with student loans, this means you won't be penalized for missing loan payments when a shutdown stops your paychecks. Your credit score also won't take a hit from missed payments during that involuntary loss of income.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Oct 24, 2025)
Halting Education Loan Payments during Federal Employment Disruptions Act or the HELP FEDs Act
This bill waives late fees, penalties, and other adverse actions for federal employees who miss student loan payments during a lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown).
The bill applies to education loans made, insured, or guaranteed under the Higher Education Act of 1965, including loans held by the Department of Education (ED) or contracted loan servicers.
Under the bill, a federal employee who misses a student loan payment that is due during a period of involuntary disruption of pay (i.e., the employee did not receive scheduled wages due to a lapse in appropriations) may not be assessed a late fee or penalty or be subject to other adverse actions. The bill also prohibits federal employees from incurring additional interest on such loans during an involuntary disruption of pay.
In addition, the bill requires ED to coordinate with credit reporting agencies and loan servicers to ensure that no adverse information related to delayed or missed student loan payments of a federal employee during an involuntary disruption of pay is furnished to any consumer reporting agency.
The bill applies retroactively to any involuntary disruption of pay occurring on or after October 1, 2025.
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. 5816
A BILL
HELP FEDs Act
Sponsor: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30) · Introduced Oct 24, 2025 · Education · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Oct 24, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.”