Van Hollen, Colleagues Urge Major Utility Companies Against Imposing Penalties, Service Shutoffs on Federal Workers Amid Shutdown

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) was joined by eight colleagues in sending letters to 22 major energy, water, and broadband utility companies urging them to avoid imposing service shutoffs and other penalties for late or missed payments on federal government employees who are not receiving pay during the government shutdown. While noting that many states have laws that protect residents facing economic challenges from utility disconnections, they called on the companies to extend these protections to federal employees nationwide – to prevent them from facing additional financial hardship or dangerous conditions in their homes amid a government shutdown caused through no fault of their own. They also point out that affected workers will receive back pay under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, legislation led by Senator Van Hollen and signed into law by President Trump in 2019 – thus allowing any suspended payments to ultimately be repaid.

Joining Senator Van Hollen on this letter are Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.).

“We write to urge you to suspend all utility shutoffs imposed on federal workers who are involuntarily furloughed without pay due to the ongoing government shutdown. Without their paycheck, federal workers are at risk of having their electricity, water, and broadband services terminated due to temporary inability to pay. The families you serve must have uninterrupted access to these essential public utilities,” the Senators began.

“A prolonged shutdown could make federal workers temporarily unable to pay their utility bills, they continued. “If a federal worker faces a utility shutoff, they are more likely to be exposed to dangerous conditions in their home due to a lack of safe temperature, drinking water, or broadband connectivity.

“Suspending utility shutoffs for federal workers during a government shutdown is in line with statutory protections across the country,” the Senators wrote, going on to stress the importance of extending utility disconnection protections nationwide. Pursuant to Maryland law, Exelon’s subsidiaries Pepco and Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) have already begun to offer flexibility to federal employees. “However, not all states or localities have such protections and federal workers impacted by the government shutdown live in every corner of our country, including in your service areas. As of July 1, 2025, there are over 2.2 million federal civilian workers, with at least 10,000 in 41 out of 50 states and at least 1,000 in each Congressional district.

“Due to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, affected federal employees will receive backpay after the shutdown concludes and at that time will be able to address any outstanding debts. Therefore, we urge you to forbear the collection of utility payments, late fees, interest accrual, or other fee collection for federal workers until their pay resumes,” they wrote.

“Our patriotic, merit-based civil servants work on behalf of the American people every day, delivering essential public services for our country. They should not have to bear the brunt of a political dispute they have nothing to do with. While we will continue to do everything in our power to swiftly reopen the government, we urge you to support our federal workers and their families during this challenging time,” the Senators concluded.

The Senators sent letters to executives of energy companies Exelon Corporation, Duke Energy, Southern Company, FirstEnergy Corporation, American Electric Power Company, Xcel Energy, Entergy Corporation, Dominion Energy, PPL Corporation, Public Service Enterprise Group, Ameren Corporation, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy; water utility companies American Water Works Company, American States Water Company, and Essential Utilities; and broadband utility companies Comcast, Charter Communications, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Cox Communications, and Lumen Technologies.

Text of the letters can be viewed here and below.

We write to urge you to suspend all utility shutoffs imposed on federal workers who are involuntarily furloughed without pay due to the ongoing government shutdown. Without their paycheck, federal workers are at risk of having their electricity, water, and broadband services terminated due to temporary inability to pay. The families you serve must have uninterrupted access to these essential public utilities.

These dedicated public servants contribute to our communities daily by inspecting our food and water, discovering cures for diseases, maintaining our parks, processing retirement benefits, caring for our veterans, and so much more. These civil servants have nothing to do with the ongoing political and policy disputes that have brought us to the government shutdown, but they will feel the acute impact of the loss of their paycheck.

A prolonged shutdown could make federal workers temporarily unable to pay their utility bills. Research shows that financially strained households tend to forgo paying for other essential needs, such as food and health care, in order to avoid utility shutoffs. Moreover, if a federal worker faces a utility shutoff, they are more likely to be exposed to dangerous conditions in their home due to a lack of safe temperature, drinking water, or broadband connectivity.

Suspending utility shutoffs for federal workers during a government shutdown is in line with statutory protections across the country. Over two-thirds of the states have statutes on the books to protect vulnerable populations from utility shutoffs. In Maryland specifically, state law prohibits public utilities from shutting off service to involuntarily furloughed federal workers.

However, not all states or localities have such protections and federal workers impacted by the government shutdown live in every corner of our country, including in your service areas. As of July 1, 2025, there are over 2.2 million federal civilian workers, with at least 10,000 in 41 out of 50 states and at least 1,000 in each Congressional district.

Due to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, affected federal employees will receive backpay after the shutdown concludes and at that time will be able to address any outstanding debts. Therefore, we urge you to forbear the collection of utility payments, late fees, interest accrual, or other fee collection for federal workers until their pay resumes.

When households are afforded utility disconnection protections, studies show that they are more likely to meet their basic expenses and less likely to rely on social networks and government agencies for assistance with their bills. By undertaking this small but meaningful action during a government shutdown, you can ensure that federal workers are not punished.

Our patriotic, merit-based civil servants work on behalf of the American people every day, delivering essential public services for our country. They should not have to bear the brunt of a political dispute they have nothing to do with. While we will continue to do everything in our power to swiftly reopen the government, we urge you to support our federal workers and their families during this challenging time.