Why is it taken for granted that the US government cannot be updated and reinvented, so that it addresses the problems that are facing today.

新闻英语不太注重语法。“问题面临某人”，face 是需要宾语的。本句的宾语是the US government，可用 it 代替。

so that it can/will address the problems that are facing it today.

最好的表达是：

Why is it taken for granted that the US government cannot be updated and reinvented, so that it can address the problems it is facing today?

更多例句：

The problems facing the President are enormous.
总统面临的问题是巨大的。
《牛津词典》
It is one of the most pressing problems facing this country.
它是该国面临的最紧迫的问题之一。
《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》
The party believes (that) education is the most important issue facing the government.
该党把教育视为政府面临的最重要的问题。
《牛津词典》
There are no easy answers to the problems facing the economy.
经济所面临的问题没有简单的解决方法。
《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》