Understanding the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Government Shutdowns

The Role of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

• 💡 The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is described as the "best kept secret in Washington D.C." and is responsible for running the executive branch of government.
• 💰 It controls the flow of money within Washington D.C., meaning no money can be spent by departments like Education without OMB approval.

OMB's Role in Government Shutdowns

• 📌 The director of the OMB is the individual who signs the order to shut down the government.
• ⚖️ A "shutdown" is not a legal term; the legal term is a "lapse in appropriation."
• 🎯 During a lapse in appropriation, the OMB becomes involved in prioritizing functions, which determines the classification of "essential" versus "non-essential" employees.

Increased Authority During Shutdowns

• 📈 The OMB and the President gain more authority during a lapse in appropriation than during ordinary times, a fact that can be used as leverage.
• 🚀 This increased authority can be used to explore options like not spending all allocated funds or potentially not providing back pay to federal workers, though back pay is generally expected due to existing laws.

Differences Between Shutdowns

• ⚔️ A key difference between the 2019 shutdown and the current one is that in 2019, a defense appropriations bill had passed, ensuring soldiers were paid, which is not the case currently.
• 🗣️ In 2019, there was a division within the Republican party regarding shutdowns, with leadership pushing to open the government, a division that is absent today.

The Concept of Winning a Shutdown

• 🤔 The idea of "winning" a government shutdown is complex, as it's difficult to directly link shutdowns to voting patterns in subsequent elections.
• 🚩 Instead, "winning" is often framed as accomplishing a political objective or setting a marker, such as standing up against Obamacare or emphasizing border security, even if a clean CR is ultimately passed.
• ✅ Historically, clean continuing resolutions (CRs) tend to win in Washington D.C., meaning government funding is eventually restored without major concessions.