According to press reports, Congress appears to be making progress on resolving budget decisions regarding funding federal programs for the remainder of fiscal year 2018, but has not yet resolved immigration issues surrounding “dreamers” – individuals who migrated to the U.S. as children.  Reaching an agreement on the “dreamers” issue appears to be a requirement for Democratic support for any funding measure.  The current spending agreement expires Feb. 8.  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has agreed to hold a vote on “dreamer” legislation at that time, if an agreement has not been reached by then. 

House and Senate Appropriators are working on another temporary spending agreement that will extend federal funding until March 22 with the goal of giving both parties additional time to resolve remaining differences.  It is unclear if postponing funding and immigration decisions will gain support in either party, so the prospect of another government shutdown next week remains a real possibility.  Further, delaying final spending decisions until March 22 may be complicated by the need to raise the federal debt limit later in March. 

Traditionally, the vote on raising the federal debt limit was a routine vote for both parties. However, in recent years, the vote on the federal debt limit - and the threat of potential disruption of federal payments - has become a leverage point for the minority party to force concessions from the White House.