To ensure that taxes are approved, the Constitution grants Congress the authority to manage government finances. Only Congress can generate income for the federal government. Tax proposals must originate in the House, but the Senate can make changes. Approval from both chambers is necessary for a bill to become law. Government shutdowns occur when the executive and Congress cannot reach a compromise and fail to pass a budget. Most shutdowns are limited and resolve quickly, despite causing minor disruptions due to funding gaps. During a complete shutdown, non-essential federal services like benefit requests, environmental and food safety inspections, and national park access are halted, leading to employee furloughs. Complete shutdowns are highly unpopular due to the inconveniences they create. The 35-day shutdown in 2018-2019 under Trump's administration was the longest in US history. To avoid shutdowns, Congress often adopts temporary "continuing resolutions" for interim funding while negotiating budgets with the president. The executive branch may need to concede to Congress to prevent a federal shutdown. In 2019, Trump discovered a unique method to circumvent Congress's control over government spending by invoking a national emergency to access emergency federal funds for his border wall.
October 2024 Speaker Johnson uses links disaster fief to immigrants as the US election approaches
In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton House Republican leaders were opposed to returning to Washington to approve billions of dollars for disaster assistance. President Joe Biden said lawmakers should return to Capitol Hill “immediately” from their preelection recess, echoing pleas from Republican and Democratic lawmakers from the afflicted states.
Republican leaders, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, have refused to approve more FEMA funding for disaster relief in the Gulf region, deciding to wait until the "lame duck" session to revisit the matter. This delay has sparked worries, as FEMA’s available funds are around $20 billion, which might not be enough for future emergencies. Even though President Biden has urged Congress to come back and support additional funding, the GOP has chosen to delay the decision.
Johnson pointed to the $20 billion Congress allocated for FEMA as part of a stopgap measure—then returned to his previously scheduled attacks on undocumented immigrants, who Johnson inexplicably blamed for the shortfall. While he did acknowledge that the streams of funding for FEMA’s disaster relief efforts are separate from those used to address immigration relief, he also attacked the Biden administration for supposedly “gleefully” reimbursing NGOs for transporting undocumented immigrants across the country. In reality, migrant relief efforts represent less than three percent of FEMA’s total annual budget
The "lame duck" Congress is the time after an election but before new officials take their seats. During this period, outgoing members can make choices without facing immediate election pressure. For Republicans, waiting until this time helps them avoid difficult funding discussions during the election season and gives them a chance to negotiate better terms after the votes are counted.
This scenario highlights the House's control over federal spending. The House is the one that starts funding bills, giving it significant power and making it hard for Biden to obtain the funds he wants. With Republicans standing their ground, the chances of FEMA getting more money before the year ends look low, leaving Biden with few options as the GOP takes the lead in this financial conflict.