Congress extends current federal spending plan and budget deadline

Bill Samuel, Director of Government Affairs for the AFL-CIO joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the ongoing issues with Congress failing to agree on a 2024 federal budget. Samuel also talked about the previous government shutdown and the internal strife for the U.S. House of Representatives Republican majority.

Several deadlines have passed for Congress to develop a new federal budget plan for the 2024 fiscal year. Each time Congress could not agree on a new budget plan, it passed resolutions that provided 40 days of funding at the same rates as the 2023 budget plan. Samuel said Congress believes they know how much is needed in 2024 but have yet to figure out how to allocate the funds. While the federal government has not been shut down, Samuel talked about the issues these continued resolutions have created.

The last government shutdown under the previous administration lasted 35 days. Samuel talked about the pay issues for air traffic controllers that contributed to that shutdown. He continued by discussing the federal workers who were asked to work without pay and get paid retroactively. Neither side of the aisle wants to shut down the government like previously believed, Samuel said, but they are still unable to get a budget plan created.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) is trying to overcome the dysfunction in the House, Samuel said. After replacing former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R- Calif.), Johnson has dealt with in-fighting from the Republican Party. He talked about various instances where the groups within the Republican Party have prevented the House from passing any resolutions, including the 2024 budget plan. Until the majority party can begin working together, Johnson is facing an uphill battle, Samuel said.

Listen to the episode above to hear more from Samuel.