U.S. Rep. Kiggans introduces bills to pay shipyard workers, military during shutdown

Kate Seltzer, The Virginian-Pilot on Oct 9, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans put forward legislation this week that would ensure military and civilian workers at public shipyards are paid during federal government shutdowns.

“These highly skilled men and women are the backbone of our Navy and play a critical role in our national security,” Kiggans said in a statement. “They shouldn’t have to worry about missing a paycheck because of political gridlock in Washington. This legislation provides stability for their families while protecting essential maintenance and modernization work on the Navy’s fleet.”

Friday marks the tenth day of the ongoing federal government shutdown. According to a statement from Kiggans, 280 employees were furloughed at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, while 6,400 workers were deemed essential and required to work without pay.

Kiggans, a Republican who represents Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, introduced the bill alongside Democrats from New Hampshire. Last month, she introduced similar legislation that would continue the appropriation of funds to pay military personnel in the event of a government shutdown. The bill now has 148 co sponsors. But this week, Politico reported House Speaker Mike Johnson said the House would not take up the bill, saying that the chamber had already done its job by passing a stopgap spending resolution and now it was up to the Senate to pass the continuing resolution and re-open the government.

Hampton Roads has a high concentration of federal workers, largely due to the military presence. That includes more than 88,000 active-duty military and more than 52,000 federal civilian employees, according to data from the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.

Further complicating the shutdown, the Trump administration has warned furloughed federal workers that they may not get back pay once the impasse ends. Some lawmakers say that is illegal, citing 2019 legislation that President Donald Trump signed into law during his first term guaranteeing retroactive backpay after a shutdown.

Kiggans declined to comment on whether she agreed with Trump and the Office of Management and Budget’s interpretation of the 2019 law, that furloughed workers are not guaranteed pay for their time off.

Federal workers will miss paychecks on Oct. 15 if a government spending deal is not reached by then.

________