Part 2/16:
The shutdown stems from a failure to pass a budget, a recurring problem dating back to the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. The core issue lies in the disagreement over appropriations—Democrats demanding nearly $1.5 trillion more than President Biden’s previous budget, extending benefits for illegal immigrants and undoing Trump-era rescissions. Republicans, represented by House Speaker Mike Johnson, attempted to pass a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government while negotiations continue. This proposal would have extended last year’s budget, which itself was 54% larger than pre-COVID spending.