The Continuing Resolution: Washington’s Band-Aid for Budget Dysfunction
- Bridget Craig
- Mar 25
- 4 min read
The U.S. government has yet again resorted to a Continuing Resolution in order to keep federal agencies funded and functioning. This will prevent a shutdown – at least through September – which is a positive, but is an inadequate form of problem solving for the lack of being able to govern in a timely manner.
A Continuing Resolution, also known as a CR, is a temporary funding measure that prevents a government shutdown when Congress fails to pass a full budget on time. While, a government shutdown occurs when no CR or budget deal is in place, forcing non-essential federal agencies and programs to halt operations.
CRs are frequently used due to Congress’s repeated inability to pass budgets on time, with at least one CR enacted in all but three of the past 47 fiscal years, with five CRs on average being passed per year, all ranging from a singular day to 176 days, according to Bipartisan Policy Center.
Rather than relying on a CR, there needs to be an increased emphasis on a stable, long-term funding solution that prioritizes the needs of the American people – which today is marked by social and economic investments.
The need for a CR exposes yet again the deep dysfunction that runs in the U.S. government’s budgeting process. This temporary fix fails to address the urgent short and long-term needs.
The repeated failure to pass a full budget is not just a sign of inefficiency — it is an indictment of how hyper-partisanship has paralyzed Congress. Bipartisan cooperation is a necessity in ensuring a functional government that can deliver for the American people.
On Dec. 20, 2024, the House and Senate passed a second continuing resolution to extend federal spending and avert a government shutdown through March 14, 2025 – overwhelmingly passing just hours before the deadline.
Last Friday, with that March 14 extension reaching its time, the House passed the spending resolution earlier in the week, then the Senate passed the CR in a vote of 62-38.
Many Democrats voiced their concerns, agreeing that the spending deal was unfavorable as it was a moment to push back against what could be deemed as executive overreach by the Trump administration.
For example, in this CR, certain measures were still able to pass. In an interview with Fordham Now, Professor Jacob Smith said, “In this one, there was an increase in defense spending and about $13 billion in cuts to non-defense programs. So it was not a “clean” continuing resolution. But some of what’s different is what’s going on with the executive branch and Elon Musk’s DOGE and cuts related to that.”
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Senate Minority Leader, credited his vote in support of the CR when he said, “A shutdown will allow DOGE to shift into overdrive. Donald Trump and Elon Musk would be free to destroy vital government services at a much faster rate.”
The nine Democrats and one independent in the senate who voted in favor of the CR – therefore against a shutdown – framed their reasoning as a way to prevent Republicans from overstepping, but many other Democrats deemed it surrendering.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) cited his decision to support the CR when he said “I believe Congress must do its most basic job to keep the lights on,” and noted that during the first Trump administration, when the government shutdown, “they repeatedly broke the law.”
To move past this pattern of stopgap measures, there must be a shift toward meaningful bipartisan cooperation that seeks to address the nation’s financial needs with stability and foresight. The decision to pass a CR should not be seen as a permanent fix but as a reflection of the broken process that is currently stalling essential policy decisions.
Bipartisanship remains essential for the United States to function effectively. Despite the divisions within the political landscape, cooperation across party lines ensures that critical government functions remain operational and that lawmakers can reach compromises on difficult issues.
Even though some Democrats objected to the CR for its lack of a more comprehensive solution and its potential to increase executive power, others viewed it as a necessary step to prevent chaos. These divisions point to the fragility of today's political climate, whether across party lines or within one’s party.
In the current political climate, achieving bipartisan cooperation may seem like an uphill battle, but it’s not impossible. To make real progress, Republicans need to return to their roots of pragmatic governance. By focusing on policies that prioritize the everyday American—such as investing in infrastructure, supporting small businesses, and ensuring access to healthcare. Republicans and Democrats do have common ground, but in this era of hyper-partisanship and the MAGA movement, programs that millions of Americans rely on are on the chopping block.
Partisan divisions need to be put aside and focus on what truly serves the needs of the American people, for the future stability and prosperity of the nation. That is investing in programs like Veterans Affairs benefits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, health programs like Medicaid, financial aid for education, affordable housing initiatives, etc.
The American people deserve a government that operates with purpose, efficiency, and commitment to their well-being, rather than being caught in a cycle of temporary fixes.
While the CR may have delayed yet another shutdown in the short term, this should not be the norm. There needs to be urgency to address issues at the root cause, which should be driven by the want to guarantee a more prosperous future for the everyday American. Temporary relief from budgeting dysfunctions is not enough.
Nothing is scarier right now than being an American knowing that the very programs that make living possible are being threatened, while our government remains stuck in endless disagreements. We need reform, not further gridlock, to ensure our nation can move forward and truly serve the needs of its people.
Photo Credit:
[Header]: Getty Images
[Embedded 1]: The Washington Post via Getty Images
[Embedded 2]: Tom Williams | CQ Roll Call
Sources:
[4]- https://now.fordham.edu/politics-and-society/why-was-this-government-shutdown-threat-different/
Comments