Congress is so dysfunctional and irresponsible it’s only done its job four times since World War II

The U.S. Congress has become dysfunctional, and it does not make one bit of difference which party is in power. Exhibit A: The federal budget and appropriations process is broken. For the thirtieth year in a row, Congress has failed to pass all the annual appropriations bills on its plate before the start of the next fiscal year.

It is clear that Congress cannot properly handle its primary spending and taxing functions in a timely manner. This is particularly shocking since Congress’ only annual responsibility under the Constitution is to fund the federal government. Astonishingly, Congress has only delivered on its fiscal responsibilities four times since World War II.

For the thirtieth year in a row, Congress did what it usually does. It failed to pass the bills on its plate and took its August break. It kicked the can down the road by passing a temporary continuing resolution (CR) that keeps the federal government funded when Congress and the President fail to enact the annual appropriations bills on time. 

Congress’ dysfunction is particularly disconcerting. After all, the federal government just experienced a record $432 billion deficit in the month of July and also surpassed the $40 trillion total federal debt threshold in August. If that is not bad enough, when the federal financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2026, are released, we project that the federal government’s total liabilities and unfunded obligations will exceed $147 trillion. That is up $11 trillion in one year and an increase from about $20 trillion in 2020.

It is time to enact major budget reforms to restore........

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