Appropriations during the Biden Presidency. Nothing new under the sun: the regular order has turned into a permanent disorder

Abstract

The 2022 U.S. midterm elections posed significant challenges to the budget process, as Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives, leading to heightened political gridlock. Biden, while managing to avoid a shutdown, struggled to maintain full control over public finance, facing Republican opposition throughout his term. The current budget process reflects a permanent state of dysfunction, deviating from the intended regular order envisioned a century ago. The use of continuing resolutions and the absence of a unified legislative framework have led to a fragmented and disorderly process. This has eroded the control function of Congress, as partisan interests often overshadow effective oversight.

Keywords: Appropriations; Presidential budget; Debt ceiling; Shutdown; Oversight function