The Department of Transportation might be forced to shut down the airspace in certain parts of the country if the government shutdown continues into next week.
We elect our politicians on a set schedule, and keep our Executive and Legislative branches separate. So, the next opportunity to “form a new government” is next November, when we re-elect the entire House and 1/3 of the Senate.
And keep in mind what this shutdown actually is. It is a failure to pass a law that appropriates money to government agencies. Not all government spending is subject to appropriations – in particular, Congress is still getting paid, because their salaries are not subject to yearly government appropriations.
Why can’t these agencies just continue to spend money? Because Congress made it illegal to exceed appropriations. This shutdown is not a bug, it’s how our politicians have set things up, on purpose.
We elect our politicians on a set schedule, and keep our Executive and Legislative branches separate. So, the next opportunity to “form a new government” is next November, when we re-elect the entire House and 1/3 of the Senate.
And keep in mind what this shutdown actually is. It is a failure to pass a law that appropriates money to government agencies. Not all government spending is subject to appropriations – in particular, Congress is still getting paid, because their salaries are not subject to yearly government appropriations.
Why can’t these agencies just continue to spend money? Because Congress made it illegal to exceed appropriations. This shutdown is not a bug, it’s how our politicians have set things up, on purpose.
Good explanation, thank you. Not at all what I expected.