The Reason Roundtable

Will a Shutdown Finally Shrink Government?

100 snips
Sep 29, 2025
The impending government shutdown is sparking debate on whether it can effectively shrink the federal bureaucracy. Past shutdowns suggest it often fails to deliver real cuts. The panel examines James Comey's indictment, questioning if it's driven by political retribution or genuine legal issues. They also analyze Trump's controversial deployment of federal troops to Portland. A dive into cyclical theories of history prompts discussion on the relevance of frameworks like The Fourth Turning in understanding today's political landscape.
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INSIGHT

Shutdowns Are Superficial Wins

  • Shutdowns rarely produce lasting cuts to federal spending or bureaucracy.
  • Past shutdowns froze small budget shares and returned spending with back pay.
INSIGHT

Short-Term Caps, Long-Term Spending Rise

  • The 2009–2013 shutdown politics briefly capped spending but later dissipated.
  • Subsequent shutdowns failed to restrain long-term spending growth.
INSIGHT

Cuts With A Power Grab

  • Russell Vought frames himself as a small-government reformer while expanding executive control.
  • Empowering the presidency to unilaterally reshape agencies risks lasting power shifts.
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