Government Shutdown: Permanent Funding Lapse Legislation Needed
GGD-91-76
Published: Jun 06, 1991. Publicly Released: Jun 28, 1991.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reported on the: (1) results of a questionnaire sent to government agencies in October 1990 on effects of a partial shutdown of the government during the Columbus Day weekend, and (2) potential effects of any future shutdowns.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress should enact permanent legislation that authorizes agencies to incur obligations but not expend funds when agency appropriations expire. The only exception Congress should grant is when program authorization has expired or Congress has expressly stated that a program should be suspended during a funding hiatus pending further legislative action. | GAO cannot predict the future likelihood of OMB ordering agencies to shutdown due to the lack of enactment of agency appropriation bills. The potential for such a shutdown order to encourage congressional compromise on the budget, however, remains an option for the executive branch to use in the future. To minimize the effects of any OMB shutdown order, the Congress should enact permanent legislation like GAO has recommended since March 1981. | |
| Congress should, at a minimum, enact permanent legislation to allow agencies to incur obligations to compensate employees during temporary funding lapses but not pay them until an appropriation bill is passed. | GAO cannot predict the future likelihood of OMB ordering agencies to shutdown due to the lack of enactment of agency appropriation bills. The potential for such a shutdown order to encourage congressional compromise on the budget, however, remains an option for the executive branch to use in the future. To minimize the effects of any OMB shutdown order, the Congress should enact permanent legislation like GAO has recommended since March 1981. |
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