A Wild Week in Washington
With just hours to spare on September 30, both chambers in Congress passed a bipartisan bill to fund the government for 45 days and reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration through the end of 2023. The continuing resolution (CR) was then signed by President Joe Biden late Saturday night. This legislation ensures the government’s operation until November 17th. This gives Congress over a month to resume negotiations and reach an agreement on the long-term spending bill. Many thought a shutdown was imminent, but a deal was struck to advance the temporary stopgap funding bill by leaving out several contested provisions (e.g., spending cuts, border policies, Ukraine funding). But it does not prevent a shutdown threat from surfacing again in late November.
What makes a long-term funding deal even less certain is the result of a tumultuous day in the House on Tuesday. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was ousted as House Speaker, the first time in the history of the chamber this procedural move has succeeded. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) was announced as the acting speaker. The House can technically conduct business but until the next speaker is elected, any major legislation will not be considered by the chamber. It is currently uncertain how quickly the election will happen.
Given this turmoil and the potential for another shutdown, it is a good idea to determine what it might mean for your community. In last week’s newsletter, we discussed the impact could be different based on the characteristics of your community. We are providing the links below to the most recent shutdown FAQs and agency contingency plans for you to prepare for the next shutdown threat.
- Congressional Research Service FAQ on Shutdowns and Executive Branch Operations
- White House Office of Management and Budget FAQ
Agency Contingency Plans
For the full list of agency contingency plans, click HERE. See below for a select list of agencies that may have the most impact on local government.
- Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/page/file/1015676/download
- Department of Treasury: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/266/IRS-FY24LapsePlan.pdf
- Department of Health and Human Services: https://www.hhs.gov/about/budget/fy-2024-hhs-contingency-staffing-plan/index.html
- Department of Interior: https://www.doi.gov/shutdown
- Department of Commerce: https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2023-09/DOC-Lapse-Plan-2023.pdf
- Department of Agriculture: https://www.usda.gov/shutdownplans
- United States Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/lapse/agency-contingency-plans-event-lapse-appropriations
- Department of Transportation: https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2023-09/Consolidated%20DOT%20Shutdown%20Plan%20OMB%20approved%209-22-2023.pdf
- Department of Housing and Urban Development: https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/HUDCONTINGENCYPLANFINAL.PDF
- Department of Homeland Security: https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2023-09/23_0926_dhs_procedures_related_to_lapse_in_appropriations_september_2023_0.pdf
- Internal Revenue Service: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/266/IRS-FY24LapsePlan.pdf