Budget plan: ‘Long and extremely divisive process’ ahead for Republicans

House Republicans narrowly pushed through a budget plan last night, the first step in securing President Trump’s legislative priorities.  

David Bateman, associate professor of government and policy at Cornell University and expert on Congress and the legislative process, says the strain on an already strained federal workforce could get worse.


Bateman says: “The Republicans just barely were able to complete the first step of what will be a long and extremely divisive process. The slim majorities mean it's almost certain that either the far right or the more moderate conservatives will threaten to upend any reconciliation bill in the coming months.

“A budget isn't required to keep the government open. But it is necessary to be able to legislate through reconciliation and thereby get around the filibuster. If Congress is unable to pass appropriations bills, the strain on the federal workforce will get worse. Federal workers are used to shutdowns, but it will be one more burden on an already overburdened and underappreciated workforce.

“We are and will be losing quality workers that we really want to be in those jobs, and getting them or other sufficiently trained personnel back will end up costing more money than the firings are saving.”

For interviews contact Damien Sharp, cell: 540.222.8208, drs395@cornell.edu.