$2 Trillion Deficit Projection Sparks Conservative Demands for Spending Cuts, Major Budget Reforms

With both houses of Congress reconvening September 12, members of both chambers will be confronted with tough spending decisions and the prospect of a government shutdown.

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) speaks to reporters as he departs from the Senate chamber on Oct. 6, 2021. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told reporters on Sept. 6 that he isn’t concerned about the possibility of a federal government shutdown, because he’s already “convinced it’s going to happen” since Congress is deadlocked on a new budget.

The North Dakota Republican also said the dire prospect of a federal budget deficit of $2 trillion or more, according to a Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CFRB) projection, doesn’t surprise him, either.