AmiSight 9/24: New Fiscal Year, Familiar Threat: Another Government Shutdown

It’s that time of year when the threat of a government shutdown looms, as Congress faces the task of allocating funding to 438 agencies before Oct. 1, the start of the fiscal year.

Reuters notes, lawmakers rarely meet this deadline and instead rely on temporary spending bills to keep the government operating. This year should be no exception. What makes the situation more volatile, however, is the sweeping shake-up under President Trump: entire agencies have been dismantled, tens of thousands of federal workers have already exited through voluntary buyouts, early retirements, agency-specific cuts, and billions in congressionally approved funds remain frozen or unspent.

Republicans, who control both the House and Senate, have largely praised Trump’s approach. But they will need at least seven Democratic votes in the 100-seat Senate to pass a funding bill. Democrats, aware of their leverage, are signaling they want spending safeguards included—measures that would limit the White House’s ability to cut or withhold programs without congressional approval.

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