Data Focus
Congress and the president must take actions before certain deadlines to ensure the government is funded before the start of the next fiscal year on October 1. When these deadlines are not met, Congress often takes stopgap measures outside of the regular process.
Data Findings
FY2021: The FY2021 budget and appropriations process is off to a typically slow start. President Trump submitted the administration’s budget proposal to Congress seven days past the statutory deadline. Neither the House nor Senate has considered a budget resolution and it seems likely they will forgo one altogether. The House made some progress on appropriations bills, having reported all twelve out of committee. None were passed by the full chamber. The Senate made little progress on appropriations. None of its twelve bills were reported out of committee and none have received floor consideration.
FY2020: The Trump administration’s budget proposal was sent to Congress 35 days past the statutory deadline and Congress never adopted a formal budget resolution before funding the government.
The House Appropriations Committee reported all 12 appropriations bills and 10 were passed by the full House before the state of the fiscal year on October 1. The Senate Appropriations Committee reported only 3 of the 12 bills, and the full Senate passed none. Because appropriations were not enacted by October 1, two continuing resolutions were required to prevent a government shutdown. Fiscal Year 2020 funding finally was enacted through two consolidated appropriations bills in December, nearly two full months past the October 1 start of the fiscal year. No standalone appropriations bills were enacted.
FY2019: The 116th Congress began during a government shutdown and was responsible for enacting FY2019 funding, which should have been completed by the 115th Congress. It took 22 days for Congress and the president to agree and enact appropriations.