Federal Government Calendar
Senator Tim Kaine proposes shifting government funding deadline to reduce shutdown risk
WASHINGTON D.C. (WSET) — On Wednesday, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, introduced the Modernizing the Federal Calendar Act. This proposed legislation aims to reduce the use of stopgap spending bills and the looming threat of government shutdowns by shifting the annual government funding deadline from October 1 to January 1. This change is intended to better align with when Congress traditionally approves year-long funding bills.
“During my time in the Senate, Congress has never passed year-long government funding by the October 1 deadline and instead relies on short-term stopgap funding bills to kick the can down the road,” Kaine said. “This hurts us because federal agencies aren’t able to plan for the next year, making it difficult to carry out existing federal programs and activities that millions of Americans rely on. That’s why I’m introducing a bill to reduce the prevalence of stopgap funding and eliminate the October shutdown threat by making the end of the fiscal year align with the end of the calendar year, when Congress has historically passed a full-year government funding bill. With this commonsense reform, we can provide more certainty for the American people.”
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The Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 updated the start of the fiscal year from July 1 to October 1. Since that adjustment, there have been only four instances when Congress successfully passed comprehensive, year-long funding bills covering all 12 appropriations bills by the October 1 deadline. The last time was during Fiscal Year 1997. The government has predominantly relied on interim solutions known as continuing resolutions (CRs), which essentially extend funding levels from the previous fiscal year for existing programs. CRs impose limitations on federal agencies, leading to delays in contracts, grants, and hiring processes.
According to Kaine, every October Americans find themselves apprehensive about the prospect of a government shutdown if Congress fails to reach consensus on either a year-long government funding bill or a CR. This situation generates stress and uncertainty for millions of Americans employed by or affiliated with the federal government, as well as countless individuals and small businesses dependent on government operations. While this bill would not eliminate the possibility of CRs or shutdowns, it would reduce the risk of government shutdowns in October, and reduce the time spent on CRs, and it would lead to a higher probability of completing government funding work on time.
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Kaine has been a vocal advocate of reforms to make the government function more effectively. He has been outspoken about the use of government shutdowns as a negotiating tactic. In an effort to end this brinksmanship, he introduced the End Shutdowns Act, legislation to prevent government shutdowns. During the 2018-2019 shutdown – which caused about 380,000 furloughs and approximately 420,000 federal employees to keep working without pay – Kaine objected to the Senate going out of session, which resulted in the passing of legislation to guarantee back pay for federal employees for that and all future shutdowns.
The full text of the bill is available here.
