Congress Faces partisan gridlock as shutdown deadline looms over budget negotiations
• Congress struggling to reach deal on fiscal 2024 government funding before end of year with shutdown deadline looming • Disagreement over top-line spending levels based on Fiscal Responsibility Act passed earlier this year • House Republicans accuse Senate Democrats of exceeding agreed upon caps; Democrats say GOP reneging • Prospect of full-year funding stopgap could hurt national security and key programs • Appropriators say time running out to reach deal and pass bills, though legislation can move quickly once deal reached