Why Government Shutdowns Are a Constant Threat | WSJ

It appears Congress is poised to avert a government shutdown just hours before the deadline. In every other country, if a government agency doesn’t have a budget for the new year, they just use last year’s. But in the U.S., Congress needs to pass a new budget every single year or agencies have to shut down.

Add in the lack of other opportunities to pass laws, a dysfunctional budget process and polarizing politics and… you have the threat of Congress not completing their most basic task nearly every year. WSJ explains.

0:00 Possible government shutdown
0:17 History of shutdowns
0:53 Appropriation bills
2:18 Budget process
2:59 Political ideologies

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On October 2, 2023 By Mary Cobbs

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