All
As mentioned in a previous update, the FAA is facing a shutdown on Friday, December 7th, because the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill has not passed. Some of you may be confused because you heard that FAA Authorization passed in October and covered us for 5 years. This is true and it was a welcome development. But remember, to fund any portion of the government, it is a two-step process. Money must be authorized… think if it as making a budget. But just because a budget is made, it doesn’t allocate the money, that happens in the appropriations process.
There are 12 appropriations bills that must be passed to fund the entire government. Four have not passed so that is why you are hearing talk of a “partial shutdown”. The FAA is included in one of those four.
So what is the likelihood of a shutdown and will it just be one of those ones that happens over the weekend so hardly anyone notices? Our Government Affairs Staff and the current feeling on Capitol Hill is that we will have a shutdown and it will not be a quick one.
Just today, Politico ran the headline Trump meeting with Pelosi and Schumer canceled as shutdown looms. The death of former President George H.W. Bush is dominating Washington even as federal funding expires Friday.
Trump is looking for 5 billion dollars for “the wall” but the Democrats want to agree to something between nothing and 1.5 billion. This is Trumps last real opportunity given the swing of the house in the November elections. Trump views a shutdown as a vehicle to get his funding. It also gets him closer to Christmas where putting people out of work would be very unpopular and potentially force the other side to agree to his terms.
The death of President Bush throws a wrinkle into the equation. It is my personal opinion that Congress and the Administration will agree to a short-term extension of approximately one week due to the negotiating time lost because of Bush’s passing. We will see how I do.
In the meantime, look out for one another and keep ‘em separated,
Richard Kennington
Northwest Mountain Legislative Chair