As we approach the uniquely American holiday of Thanksgiving, it is customary to look up from the day-to-day to contemplate and plan. The challenges facing us prompt an early start on such reflection this year, as America needs confident leadership to confront issues on many fronts — both foreign and domestic.
We continue to witness a war in Europe, as Ukrainians fight for their lives and freedom. We are now seeing a wave of horrifying new violence and suffering in the Middle East in the Israel-Gaza conflict where the young and hospitalized — those already most vulnerable — are among those targeted and killed.
Further east, despite a shaky economy, aging population and fragile political system, China has only become more aggressive and dangerous. According to the recently released 2023 China Military Power report, the People’s Liberation Army has “increased provocative and destabilizing actions in and around the Taiwan Strait, including ballistic missile overflights of Taiwan, increased flights into Taiwan’s self-declared air defense identification zone, and large-scale simulated joint blockade and simulated joint firepower strike operations.” Washington’s confused and hesitant signals have undoubtedly encouraged China to test our strength as a global power.
Contributing to the perception of American disarray is an impending government budget debacle at the very time we need stability. Congressional dysfunction stands in the way of annual appropriations and emergency funding to support Israel and Ukraine, improved partnership with Taiwan, and resources to secure our own Southwest border.
There is much urgent and important work for America. But, this is nothing new. America is creative, compassionate and resilient. We can multi-task. In fact, America is at its best when things are the most complicated. As we respond to near-term urgent priorities, we can still focus on important longer-term matters.
National security is the perfect example of a space where America has proven its ability to face multiple challenges. This is demonstrated by how we study ways to improve defense innovation, seek to diversify and strengthen our supply chain, expand the capacity of the industrial base, and examine military compensation as a tool for recruiting and retaining service members. As ideas are proposed and debated to solve these and many other problems, we should be thankful for the work we have done and look forward to efforts to build upon it.
We must also remember that our historical durability and general good fortune are not entitlements. Political divisiveness elevated to prominence over life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness has consequences. Our represented leaders in whom we have placed our trust, and increasing amounts of our treasure, must put us before themselves. And in doing so, they have three tasks to accomplish before the end of this calendar year.
First, the House Republican majority must elect a Speaker and prioritize the necessary business of the nation over all other concerns. Historically this was not a task filled with drama and uncertainty; due to a very narrow majority margin and a small group of frustrated and rudderless lawmakers, however, it has become a national embarrassment. The absence of an elected Speaker is evidence of the broader crises of confidence in America. No candidate is perfect. The majority caucus should select and unify behind a leader or increase authority for a temporary appointment and revisit the election of the Speaker after the critical work of the nation is complete for the year.
Second, the current continuing resolution (CR), which extended last year’s funding and priorities to avoid a shutdown of the federal government, will expire on Nov. 17. There are several options to escape another costly last-minute funding fiasco, none of them wonderful at this point in the year but all of them better than nothing. The preferred and least destructive course of action would be to negotiate and pass a final fiscal 2024 appropriations package that adheres to the previously enacted Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) caps and move on to fight other battles, such as the increasing deficit, another day. Even with limited time, doing this is still possible. There are other options — a longer-term CR that repeals FRA caps, shorter-term CRs that eventually lead to huge cuts mid-way through the year, or some combination — all of which waste time and money we can’t afford to lose.
And, finally, Congress must pass an emergency supplemental bill that will carry us through the next election. Doing so will be understandably difficult. But, we already know the distractions that will accompany another crazy election cycle next year and must prepare to let those debates dominate lawmakers’ time without causing self-inflicted national security damage.
The consequences of inaction are high. Now is the time to remember the best of who we are as Americans. Common ground on important issues exists. Idealistic? Sure. But a return to that kind of thinking is what we need. Our elected representatives must be confident enough to find common ground and act now.
Elaine McCusker is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. She is a former acting undersecretary of defense (comptroller).