It’s often said that “politics and sports don’t mix,” but the two realms are deeply intertwined, with politics frequently infused into sports narratives. As the regular baseball season draws to a close, the Cincinnati Reds, my favorite team, have made headlines by firing manager David Bell after a subpar season. With only a few games remaining, other teams are likely to follow suit soon with their managers, particularly those in Colorado, Miami, Toronto, and possibly the Los Angeles Dodgers, depending on playoff outcomes.
The Reds, uniquely, had high hopes for the season, driven by star players like Hunter Greene and Elly De La Cruz, along with a strong roster that many believed could finally lead the team to a division win and a potential run for the National League pennant. However, alongside the Toronto Blue Jays, the Reds find themselves as one of the most disappointing teams in Major League Baseball. Since 2013, the Reds have been stuck in a seemingly endless cycle of rebuilding, failing to win a postseason series since 1995 and last reaching the World Series in 1990. As fans often remark, “Wait till next year.”
This sentiment parallels the struggle Congress faces with its appropriations bills. The end of the government’s fiscal year closely aligns with the baseball season, as the fiscal year concludes on September 30, just one day after the final day of regular baseball. While some teams celebrate playoff berths, many, including the Reds, will be heading home early, a fate that seems to also await Congress.
Congress has long grappled with timely approval of its 12 spending bills, leading to political impasses and several messy government shutdowns over the years. Despite repeated vows from bipartisan lawmakers to improve processes, little reform has been achieved—a familiar tune for Reds fans watching their team’s repeated failures.
Last fall, Congress approached a potential shutdown deadline. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy ultimately introduced a simple bill to maintain government funding at current levels, which allowed the government to remain operational. Yet, while McCarthy condemned Democrats for their failure to pass spending bills as a majority, his party did not fare much better. During Fiscal Year 2023, the Democrat-controlled House managed to pass six individual spending bills, while the Senate approved none. Conversely, in Fiscal Year 2024, the Republican-led House passed seven bills, but the Senate only managed three. For Fiscal Year 2025, which Congress is currently addressing, the House approved five, while the Senate has yet to pass any.
When Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., took office last October, he expressed a desire for the House to prioritize passing individual spending bills. However, Congress continued adopting stopgap measures to fund the government, a practice that lasted until April of this year. Johnson aimed to push for individual spending measures for Fiscal Year 2025, but progress has been modest at best, with only five bills approved—covering Defense, Energy & Water, Interior, Military Construction/Veterans Affairs, and State/Foreign Operations. The House embarrassingly failed to approve the “Legislative Branch” appropriations bill, highlighting its inability to even fund its own operations.
As autumn 2023 unfolds, tensions rise within Congress. Conservatives previously criticized McCarthy for recessing in August without addressing spending bills, and similar grievances target Johnson now. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., voiced her concerns, stating, “We weren’t here in the entire month of August. We could have finished our 12 separate appropriations bills.”
Consequently, Johnson finds himself in a precarious situation, mirroring McCarthy’s struggles from last year. The House is set to vote on an interim spending bill to maintain operations, though Johnson aspired for a longer bill extending into the spring. Instead, he settled for one lasting until December 20, although a more extensive “Christmastime omnibus” bill still looms as a possibility if lawmakers cannot advance their measures by mid-December.
This predicament reflects a recurring theme in Congress’s handling of appropriations. Like McCarthy, Johnson may face calls for dismissal from conservative factions if he doesn’t deliver results, particularly as he prepares for re-election as Speaker in January.
Just as Reds fans have weathered repeated disappointments with their team, those observing Congress might not hold much optimism for future improvements in handling appropriations bills. With promises made for better performance next year, lawmakers may find themselves facing the same challenges as before, and changes in “management” are possible, whether through efforts to unseat Johnson or shifts in party control.
Ultimately, analysts familiar with congressional proceedings see little indication that the fall and winter of 2025 will yield much change regarding timely completion of spending measures and avoiding government shutdowns. However, akin to the optimism in baseball, there remains the familiar adage: there’s always next year.
