#budget | The Distraction Index
The Distraction Index
Weekly civic intelligence report · v2.2
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#budget
20 events across 16 weeks
1
Damage
3
Distraction
16
Noise
7.0
Avg A
16.2
Avg B
WEEK 58
Feb 1 – 7
NOISE
2026-02-05
LA County Budget Faces $200 Million Deficit and Hiring Freeze
Resource Reallocation
single state · broad
A
0.0
B
1.6
WEEK 57
Jan 25 – 31
NOISE
2026-01-30
Senate Democrats Block Government Funding Package as Shutdown Negotiations Continue
Resource Reallocation
federal · broad
A
4.9
B
13.2
NOISE
2026-01-30
Democrats and White House Reach Deal on ICE Funding to Avert Government Shutdown
Resource Reallocation
federal · broad
A
WEEK 56
Jan 18 – 24
NOISE
2026-01-23
House Passes $1.2 Trillion Spending Bills with ICE Funding Despite Democratic Opposition
Resource Reallocation
federal · broad
A
6.7
B
13.7
WEEK 49
Nov 30 – Dec 6
NOISE
2025-12-05
Libraries and Museums Receive Federal Funding Restoration
Resource Reallocation
federal · moderate
A
0.3
B
3.1
WEEK 41
Oct 5 – 11
DMG
2025-10-10
Congressional Shutdown Negotiations Stalled Over Impoundments and Rescissions
Policy Change
federal · broad
A
34.4
B
21.5
WEEK 37
Sep 7 – 13
NOISE
2025-09-13
National Guard and Marines Deployment to Los Angeles Costs Millions
Resource Reallocation
single state · moderate
A
7.5
B
22.1
NOISE
2025-09-13
Federal Watchdog Questions Millions Spent on Shuttered U.S. Embassy in Venezuela
Resource Reallocation
federal · narrow
A
WEEK 33
Aug 10 – 16
NOISE
2025-08-16
Idaho Governor Signs Order for 3% Budget Cuts
Resource Reallocation
single state · moderate
A
0.1
B
1.1
WEEK 30
Jul 20 – 26
NOISE
2025-07-26
Michigan Committee Power Stripped Amid Budget Gridlock
Norm Erosion Only
single state · moderate
A
3.1
B
10.5
WEEK 21
May 18 – 24
NOISE
2025-05-23
Nebraska Governor Pillen Misses Line-Item Veto Deadline
Policy Change
single state · moderate
A
2.6
B
17.1
DIST
2025-05-23
House Passes Major Budget/Legislative Bill Under Speaker Johnson
Policy Change
federal · broad
A
WEEK 20
May 11 – 17
NOISE
2025-05-17
Republicans Reject Trump Tax Cut and Budget Bills Despite Presidential Calls for Unity
Policy Change
federal · moderate
A
2.2
B
23.8
WEEK 19
May 4 – 10
DIST
2025-05-10
US Debt Limit Projected for August 2025
Policy Change
federal · broad
A
18.5
B
36.8
WEEK 18
Apr 27 – May 3
NOISE
2025-05-03
Trump Budget Proposal Slashes NASA Funding
Resource Reallocation
federal · moderate
A
5.8
B
17.1
WEEK 15
Apr 6 – 12
NOISE
2025-04-05
Bernie Sanders Warns Trump Budget Threatens Social Security
Information Operation
federal · broad
A
0.0
B
24.2
WEEK 14
Mar 30 – Apr 5
NOISE
2025-04-05
Senate Vote-a-Rama on Trump Budget Resolution
Policy Change
federal · broad
A
11.6
B
17.3
WEEK 8
Feb 16 – 22
NOISE
2025-02-22
Trump Signals Openness to Multiple Budget Bills Instead of Single Bill
Policy Change
federal · broad
A
9.6
B
14.9
WEEK 3
Jan 12 – 18
NOISE
2025-01-18
House GOP Mulls 200+ Budget Cuts, Breaks, and Tariffs
Policy Change
federal · broad
A
8.2
B
10.2
0.6
B
3.5
0.2
B
6.3
DIST
2025-09-13
Democrats Initiate Health Care Fight as Shutdown Deadline Looms
Norm Erosion Only
federal · broad
A
1.5
B
36.0
21.3
B
30.6