WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Sunday that he wants to pass a “clean” stopgap funding measure to keep federal agencies operating at current spending levels through September and leave proposed cuts for legislation for the next fiscal year.
During a series of television appearances, Johnson dispelled the notion that cuts identified by billionaire Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which Democrats vehemently oppose, could be included in a continuing resolution, known as a CR, intended to avert a partial government shutdown when current funding expires on March 14.
“We’re looking to pass a clean CR to freeze funding at current levels to make sure that the government can stay open,” Johnson told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“We are working hard to do our responsibility to keep the government open. Democrats have to help negotiate this,” he said.
Well, I am not sure DOGE’s purpose was to do actual cuts, but to identify waste and areas where cuts could be made. Doubt DOGE could make cuts if it wanted to – funding comes from Congress, so the process would be for Trump to present a proposed budget implementing DOGE’s recommendations, Congress fight over it, pass something for Trump to sign, he signs it or not, more fighting over the budget ensues, etc. etc.
Not really an efficient way to run a country but it’s kind of what we are stuck with for now.
Mark: Congress budgets / appropriates the money, Executive spends it.
DOGE role is explicitly advisory. It’s a rename of a White House I/T office created by Obama, USDS, U.S. Digital Service – now U.S. DOGE Service.
But Executive, in theory, does not have to spend what Congress budgets / appropriates. Unless some out-of-control judge orders spending. And that has happened, quite a bit.
So:
– When DOGE identifies something as waste or fraud, Trump & co try to not spend that money.
– Judges may override them, or force spending.
– If not: Money is indeed unspent/saved, and sits in the U.S. Treasury, ironically serving to delay the next budget / Treasury crisis.
– Meanwhile, what is budgeted / appropriated by Speaker Johnson & Congress is on a separate track – indeed, separate branch of government.
– Congress is free to ignore DOGE cuts.
– New fiscal year: Cycle repeats. Congress has budgets & appropriates money, which Executive is free to withhold or genuinely save – provided, judges will let them.
OK?
I understood this, all along. If others did not, I’m happy to explain it.
On judges. The judges have no real authority to override the executive in his functions, only if constitutional rights are threatened can they step in. The judges also cannot demand when and where money can be spent. They can only render opinions. They have no enforcement capabilities. Unfortunately the executive is not asserting his constitutional authority and is going along with these spurious delay tactics. I for one am tired of this show.
Yes, it is Trump and congress who make the call. Elon and DOGE have no executive power.
If they delay cuts now, they’ll do so again, and not much will have changed.
It’s bit more complicated. The authority of a president to impound funds is limited. I’ve not read the appropriate statute (enacted by Congress in 1974, in reaction to President Nixon’s impoundment of funds), but I do know that the President does not have complete discretion, depending, I presume on the nature of the appropriation. That the CR does not have cuts is not relevant to the question. The hope is that, while the Congress is in Republican hands, Congress may actually be able to enact a real budget for the first time in a long time, and perhaps — mirabile dictu! — on time. That will be the real test of the long-term affects of the DOGE recommendations.
The more precise way to say it is: Congress has cut nothing.
Or longer: “Speaker Johnson admits, even as DOGE names savings & Trump attempts to hold money back, Congress has cut nothing.”
Yup. Congress strikes again.