"Congress Nears Spending Deal Extension to Avoid Government Shutdown"

Senate Republicans are seeking another extension of current government funding levels, likely into March, to avoid a shutdown and negotiate spending bills. Lawmakers are racing to meet deadlines on Jan. 19 and Feb. 2 to keep the government open, but negotiations on spending caps and critical legislation remain unresolved. The proposal is likely to put Senate Republicans at odds with their House colleagues, and tensions within the GOP are rising over funding agreements and potential extensions.