As the deadline approaches to prevent a potential government shutdown, tensions are rising in Congress. The ongoing dispute over proposed DOGE cuts by Republicans has complicated funding talks, leading Democratic appropriators to express concerns that negotiations have stalled, further raising the risk of a shutdown. With only two weeks left to resolve these issues, lawmakers seem to be at an impasse, battling over Trump’s spending priorities amidst fears that a shutdown is increasingly likely. Speaker Johnson has suggested that a clean deal to avert the shutdown might still be possible, although GOP unity around a stopgap funding bill contrasts with Democratic demands, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty. Many are questioning whether Congress can finally avoid a reliance on stopgap measures, while some House Democrats are contemplating drastic actions.