By law, the executive branch can't spend more money that what has been appropriated, so in theory any president has to "shut the government down" https://en.wi

By law, the executive branch can't spend more money that what has been appropriated, so in theory any president has to "shut the government down" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antideficiency_Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antideficiency_Act This is all subject to interpretation, mind you.