Lawmakers Seek to Reform Washington’s Budget Process

Congress has shut the government down 20 times since the adoption of the modern budget system in 1974

Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) (L), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and president of the Committee for Responsible Budget (CFRB) Maya MacGuineas at the 2018 Better Budget Process Summit in Washington, DC on Feb. 26, 2018. Courtesy of the CFRB

WASHINGTON—The federal budget process is broken and needs drastic repair, according to lawmakers. In recent years, the budget has become a tactical game for political parties, leading to delays, uncertainties, and government shutdowns.

Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), a member of the Budget Committee vented his frustration about the committee and the budget process at a panel discussion on Feb. 26.