Another week has passed, and much of our federal government remains shuttered. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees are either furloughed or working without pay. National parks are closed, small business loans are on hold, and millions of Americans are feeling the ripple effects. SNAP benefits affecting millions of Americans have been cutoff. Once again, Washington has managed to do what no foreign adversary could: bring America to a standstill.
So how do we get the federal government back open? The answer isn’t complicated — but it does require political courage, something that seems to be in short supply these days.
First, both parties must rediscover the concept of governing over grandstanding. Too often, shutdowns have become political weapons — a way for one side to force concessions by holding the entire country hostage. That approach may score points on cable news, but it’s disastrous for democracy. Real leadership means compromise, not chaos. Lawmakers must start negotiating with the goal of solving problems, not humiliating their opponents.
Second, Congress should pass automatic funding provisions that prevent shutdowns altogether. Several bipartisan proposals already exist that would keep the government operating at current levels if a new budget isn’t passed on time. Such a “continuing resolution safeguard” would remove the threat of shutdowns as a bargaining tool and force legislators to do their jobs without the drama. I don’t understand why this hasn’t been passed in the past. To me it’s Legislation 101 and would put a halt to government shutdowns forever.
Third, there needs to be accountability when the government closes. Members of Congress and senior officials should not receive paychecks when federal workers don’t. That simple act of fairness would go a long way in encouraging urgency. When lawmakers feel the same pain their constituents do, compromise happens faster. I ranted in my column about this last week. Why should our elected officials get paid when their constituents are doing everything to simply survive.
Fourth, we must return to regular order in budgeting — that means committees doing their work, hearings held in public, and bills debated and amended openly. The backroom, last-minute deal-making that’s become the norm only breeds distrust and dysfunction. Transparency can restore both efficiency and confidence in government.
Finally, Americans themselves have a role to play. Voters must demand responsibility at the ballot box. If politicians refuse to fund the government, they shouldn’t be rewarded with another term. As citizens, we have the ultimate leverage: our vote. If we keep electing obstructionists, we’ll keep getting obstruction.
The cost of a shutdown isn’t abstract. Families living paycheck to paycheck can’t pay their bills. Veterans see benefits delayed. Rural communities lose grant support. Even the stability of our national credit can be affected. Every day that passes deepens the harm — not to the politicians in Washington, but to the people who sent them there.
I applaud the federal workers that continue to work despite not receiving a paycheck. I heard several horror stories about air traffic controllers not showing up to work thus causing a rash of cancelled flights, or at the very least delayed flights.
I flew from Michigan to Florida this past Sunday and experienced a perfect flight. We left early and arrived in Orlando half an hour early. I was either lucky, or reports have been greatly exaggerated.
Getting the federal government back open requires less finger-pointing and more responsibility. America deserves a government that works, not one that weaponizes dysfunction. It’s time for both sides to put down the political talking points, sit at the table, and remember who they’re supposed to serve: not their party, not their donors, but the American people.
