Tag: Budget
Federal Workforce Crisis: How Skeleton Crews Are Asked to Manage Your Tax Dollars
With a budget of approximately $6.8 trillion in fiscal year 2024, the U.S. federal government is one of…
How Congress Calculates State Costs of Federal Budget Cuts
When Congress debates cutting federal spending or enacting new national standards, a critical question arises: Who ultimately pays…
How Federal Actions Drive Up Costs for States and Cities
In October 2025, Los Angeles County declared a state of emergency in response to a wave of federal…
How All 50 States Approach Education Policy
The United States has no single national education system. Instead, 50 distinct state systems operate with different priorities,…
Guide to Medicare’s 2025 Annual Enrollment for 2026 Coverage
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is the single most important time of year for millions of Americans who…
Can the President Pay Troops During a Government Shutdown?
In October 2025, with the government shut down and military paychecks at risk, President Donald Trump announced he…
What FEMA Does When There’s No Disaster
When the Federal Emergency Management Agency appears in the national consciousness, it is almost always framed by disaster:…
Most Favored Nation Status: From Trade Policy to Drug Prices
"Most Favored Nation" has long been a cornerstone of international trade policy. It's a principle designed to ensure…
The Republican Case Against Public Broadcasting Funding
A reader writes us to ask: "There are enough sources of information, do we really need funding for…
The Democratic Case for Public Broadcasting Funding
A reader writes us to ask: "There are enough sources of information, do we really need funding for…
Is it Normal in a Government Shutdown to Cancel Programs or Funding Benefiting the Opposing Political Party?
Historically, government shutdowns have served as legislative leverage, used by one party or branch to compel the other…
Why the Trump Administration Is Considering a $10-14 Billion Farmer Bailout
The Trump administration is considering a large-scale financial aid package for American farmers ranging from $10 billion to…