Potential Government Shutdown Looms in Fall

With the start of the next fiscal just four months away, conflict in Congress makes it likely that a continuing resolution may be procured before October 1 to keep the federal government functional. What’s more, failure to reach an accord in Congress may lead to a formal shutdown of the government just six weeks to the midterm elections.

 

But how will this happen? Below is a breakdown of the possible ways this might unfold.

 

• In recent months, Republicans have made it clear that they won’t allow the passage of a budget resolution in Congress despite federal law requiring

 

• Subsequently, this makes it impossible to allocate funds for the coming year unless a budget resolution is adopted first before May 1^st.

 

• Although the House had numerous opportunities to debate the appropriations bill for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2018, the House didn’t take any action regarding2019 appropriations.

 

• According to gov, the House Appropriations Committee has only approved5 of the 12 2019 Appropriation bills with its subcommittee approving only two others.

 

• The present condition means that there currently isn’t any tentative approval of the 2019 appropriations

 

• What’s more, data on Congress.gov indicates that theSenate AppropriationsCommittee and its subcommittees have approved none of the allocations despite having the capacity to act independently of the House.

 

• Plus, there isn’t sufficient time for Congress to act. Besides, the fiscal year 2019 begins about four months time. Session 42 of the House is set to commence within 95 working days and theSenate has only 61 sitting days.

 

• But what can change this situation? Only if the WhiteHouse, Senate, and the House jointly can a possible government shutdown is averted.

 

• With the House FreedomCaucus flexing its political muscles, Democrats not willing to lose any political ground before the midterm elections, and a president willing to prove his mettle after okaying the 2018 appropriations bills reluctantly, gaining consensus in a fractured Congress will prove challenging.

 

• Also, achieving an agreement between Democrats and Republicans that pleases the president looks impossible. Keep it in mind that the president needs billions of dollars for his border wall.
• However, the House Speaker andSenate MajorityLeader are doing everything possible to prevent any potential government shutdown before fall. Accordingly, they are relentlessly working to have as many appropriations bills passed.

 

• Nonetheless, it remains to be seen whether this will be possible with so little time left before the beginning of the fiscal year 2019.

 

• What’s more, the House Speaker and Senate Majority Leader are keen to avoid short-lived continuing resolutions. Why is that so? It is becauseCRs will keep Democrat and Republican lawmakers in Washington instead of on the campaign

 

• Consequently, October 1 is a most important deadline marking the beginning of a political showdown regarding a CR and signaling the possibility of a potential government shutdown.