How does a shutdown end if an agreement is never reached?

Question

The US government is shut down, due to disagreements between President and Congress on border security funding.Both sides are in an apparent stalemate. So my question is simply, what happens if neither side backs down? Does the shut-down just go on indefinitely? How does this end?

Answer 1

A government shutdown typically ends through one of the following methods. The most common way is for both sides, the executive branch (President) and the legislative branch (Congress), to agree on the issues that led to the shutdown. This often involves negotiations and compromises. Once an agreement is reached, a budget or spending bill is passed, and the government can resume operations. Alternatively, a short-term funding bill known as a "continuing resolution" (CR) may be passed to temporarily fund the government, allowing more time for negotiations and avoiding a prolonged shutdown. Sometimes, the President can take executive action to reopen certain government agencies or departments, even if a full budget agreement has not been reached. Public opinion and pressure can also be significant factors, as a shutdown's impact on the public can lead to pressure on both sides to find a resolution. Additionally, Congress can override a presidential veto or pass a budget with a large enough majority to make it law. Election outcomes can also influence shutdown resolution, as changes in the balance of power in Congress may lead to a shift in negotiations.

Answer 2

There is no higher authority than the Executive Branch and the Legislative, and that is what would have to exist to force some sort of override solution. In theory, if there was a legal dispute, the third branch of government could kick in, but the scenario is highly unlikely. The issue would have to be submitted to the Supreme Court, and they would have to agree to review it. The resulting ruling could then possibly impact a stalemate, but that process takes months, and there also aren't any great constitutional challenges in play here, just normal annual budget arm-wrestling and competing views of how the world should be. The Founding Fathers foresaw situations like this, and that is why the system was designed to run on compromise. So yes, it can go on indefinitely. It's basically a game of chicken, and somebody has to make the first move to give in a bit. .