Congress returned from its holiday break this week, and with less than two weeks to go, lawmakers are facing the familiar specter of a government shutdown if they fail to reach an agreement on spending levels. The deadline is approaching, and the pressure is on.
House Speaker Mike Johnson managed to prevent a government shutdown in November by successfully passing a short-term budget extension. Now, he faces the challenge of doing so again. However, it's doubtful that he will be able to secure a deal before the January deadline. Johnson will likely face resistance from the right-wing of his caucus, similar to what drove former Speaker Kevin McCarthy out of office. McCarthy had been forced to step down after striking a deal with Democrats to keep the government running.
