Voters Don’t Want a Shutdown, They Want Action on the National Debt Instead
Last Updated September 1, 2023
Congress faces a September 30 deadline to find agreement on a budget and avert a government shutdown. A vast majority of voters is urging them to come together to find a solution.
A new Peterson Foundation poll shows that nine-in-ten Americans want policymakers to work together to avoid a shutdown and focus on implementing solutions to our growing national debt. Strong majorities of voters across party lines believe a shutdown should be avoided because it harms the economy (77%) and because it distracts from America’s larger fiscal challenges (70%).
As Foundation CEO Michael Peterson said, “Nobody wins in a government shutdown, especially our economy and the American people.”
See the below infographic for further details on this new polling.
Further Reading
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A new report outlines ways to find cost savings by reducing overlap, duplication, and fragmentation across the federal government.
What Are Treasury’s “Extraordinary Measures” on the Debt Ceiling?
When the government reaches its debt ceiling, the Treasury can use various accounting maneuvers, so-called “extraordinary measures,” to forestall a default.
The President’s “Skinny Budget” Reallocates Priorities for Appropriations
President Trump’s budget would maintain discretionary spending at the same amount — but would reallocate billions from other programs into defense and homeland security.