The spotlight is on Speaker Johnson — we need a budget now 

The extra time Congress gave itself to finish its primary task — passing annual appropriations to keep the federal government running — will come to an end on Nov. 17. 

Leaning on the experienced appropriation committee leadership, House Speaker Mike Johnson has an opportunity to prove that he can change how Washington operates by passing a federal budget today. 

The must-do job is not an easy one. It is complex, multi-faceted and urgent. The environment in which it must be done is also complicated. Well-meaning but vastly different approaches to the task, combined with strong competing interests and plenty of mistrust, add to the difficulty. But the consequences of inaction are serious and pressing. 

The nation is faced with plenty of challenges. Two open conflicts rage, as Ukraine fights for its freedom against Russian aggression and Israel responds to a terrible attack by Hamas. More and more innocent lives are caught in the crossfire. China is accelerating its military buildup and increasing its aggressive and coercive actions. Meanwhile, the U.S. defense industrial base flounders, supply chains remain vulnerable and the workforce is struggling. As the national debt grows, our values are tested and the world is dangerous and depressing while public discourse and elected leaders are openly divisive and distracted.  

According to the 2023 report on Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China, the People’s Liberation Army is modernizing its capabilities specifically to confront the United States by improving its proficiencies across all warfare domains. China already has the largest Navy in the world and the largest aviation force in the Indo-Pacific region. It is developing new ballistic missile systems to improve its nuclear-capable missile forces. 

Speaking of nuclear capabilities, the recently released report on America’s Strategic Posture concludes that “America’s defense strategy and strategic posture must change in order to properly defend its vital interests and improve strategic stability with China and Russia.” Commissioners emphasize that decisions need to be made now in order for the nation to be prepared to address the threats in the coming decade. 

Decisions need to be made now. Instead, we limp along under destructive and wasteful continuing resolutions (CRs) amid perpetual budget brinkmanship.  

The dangers are clear. So are the consequences of ignoring them. 

Our active-duty military force is hollowing and its size is already too small for a national security strategy that is drowning. This small, hollow force will be faced with delayed modernization and degraded readiness under long-term temporary funding measures that prohibit new starts, inhibit production increases and lack crucial investments in the industrial base and supply chain. America’s military might is not an entitlement, nor is its role as a global power. Both must be prioritized and pursued by our national leadership. 

Instead, the Fiscal Responsibility Act defense caps are too low and the sequestration-like provision that was meant to incentivize Congress to do its job before the end of the calendar year will pile large cuts on top of those already inherent in CRs. It also carries unprecedented risk for defense, subject to huge, rapid budget reductions — estimated at $50 billion in one year, even if a defense bill is enacted and others are not. Supplementals, which are also needed for U.S. support of Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and security on the southwest border, will not make up such a huge shortfall. 

There is no scarcity of adversity, but there are solutions. We are a problem-solving nation. The more daunting the obstacles, the greater the opportunity. In American history, words like courage, integrity, creativity and optimism had real meaning. They still do. It is time for our leaders to embrace these concepts and restore the confidence in America that comes with them.  

Congress should lead us with hope by modeling the creativity, sacrifice and selflessness required for compromise. They should affirm that American leadership is worth the cost. 

The new House Speaker has a particularly unique opportunity right now to put real meaning behind his post-election words: “The urgency of this moment demands bold, decisive action to restore trust, advance our legislative priorities, and demonstrate good governance.” He can do all three by accomplishing the most immediate and fundamental task: reaching agreement on spending measures with enough support to pass before the end of the calendar year. 

That agreement should also include a provision to incentivize pre-election disposition of debt-reduction efforts and annual appropriations next year, by placing the penalty of failure where it will actually impact those who must do the work. Congress should reduce its own pay if does not do its job.  

As with most important responsibilities, hard choices are often the right ones. In this case, Congress must put the interests of the nation, particularly defense and national security, where America expects and needs them to be — first.  

Elaine McCusker is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. She is a former acting undersecretary of defense (comptroller).