The Perpetual Crisis: A Funding Fight as Political Theater
FIRST INSTANCE: The Legacy of Continuing Resolutions (CRs) While the modern appropriations process has evolved, the weaponization of funding deadlines can be traced to the post-Watergate era's increased scrutiny on executive power and the subsequent weakening of congressional leadership. The concept of using budget impasses to force policy began to solidify in the late 1970s and 1980s. A notable
early example is the budget battles of 1981 , where President Reagan utilized the threat of government shutdowns to push through significant spending cuts and tax reforms. This marked a shift from technical budget discussions to high-stakes political showdowns, setting a precedent for leveraging appropriations. REPETITIONS: The Border as a Perennial Lever 1995-1996 Government Shutdowns: During the
Clinton administration, Speaker Newt Gingrich's Republican-led Congress orchestrated two government shutdowns, lasting a total of 27 days. While ostensibly about balancing the budget, a key underlying demand was increased control over domestic policy, including welfare reform. The shutdowns demonstrably failed to achieve all stated objectives but solidified the perception that such tactics could
exert pressure. (Congressional Research Service, 1996) 2013 Government Shutdown: The 16-day shutdown under President Obama was primarily driven by attempts to defund or delay the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The debate highlighted how a minority faction within Congress could hold the entire appropriations process hostage to a single, non-budgetary policy goal. Despite significant economic cost –