Like many people around the country, Congress is getting back to work after a holiday break — and it's being forced to circle back on quite an urgent to-do list. From funding the government to finding a deal on foreign aid, lawmakers have a stacked agenda that they procrastinated on last year but now need to confront.
Their ability to do so will have major consequences, including whether the US government shuts down and whether there will be disruptions to US aid to Ukraine. Enduring dissent in Congress — particularly among House Republicans — is poised to make arriving at a final deal on many of these subjects difficult.
Below is a rundown of some of the things Congress still has on its agenda — and why getting them done could prove contentious.
Funding the government and keeping it open: Each year, Congress must (and struggles to) pass 12 spending bills to keep the government funded and open. 2023 was no different, with lawmakers failing to approve annual appropriations bills and instead passing short-term spending bills keeping the government funded for a brief period.
The new deadlines for the longer-term bills are fast approaching, with government funding for some agencies expiring on January 19 and funding for another set of agencies expiring on February 2.
The government risks a partial shutdown after that first deadline, as lawmakers have struggled to arrive at a deal for full-year spending and House Republicans have dismissed a short-term extension. The House GOP's right flank wants changes to border policy, while Senate Democrats are likely to oppose such requests.
When the government shuts down, federal workers are either furloughed or forced to work without pay in the affected agencies. Key government services could also see delays in immigration courts, food inspections, and loan approvals.
Foreign aid: The Biden administration has requested about $106 billion in aid to Ukraine for its ongoing war with Russia, as well as to Israel as it continues its military offensive against Hamas and Gaza.
The administration has stated that US aid to Ukraine may run out if Congress doesn't act, a development that could undermine the country's ability to continue combating Russia's offensive. Meanwhile, a growing number of House Republicans argue that the Ukraine funds would be better spent domestically.
While aid for Israel has bipartisan backing, there's also been growing scrutiny of the idea as Israel has killed more than 22,000 people in Gaza, spurring progressive lawmakers to call for humanitarian conditions on any support.
Complicating matters further, House and Senate Republicans have said these aid packages need to be tied to a deal on border security as they seek to make this subject a political flashpoint ahead of this year's election.
A border security deal: Thus far, Republicans have held up the passage of foreign aid packages unless Congress also approves border security proposals.
Senate negotiators have been trying to find some kind of agreement that both Democrats and Republicans can get behind, though they've yet to find a deal.
Republicans have urged more stringent policies at the border including ongoing construction of the border wall and forcing asylum seekers to wait outside the US as their applications are being processed. Democrats have typically pushed for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, though they're now more likely to consider harsher policies.
For more on the pressing matters in Congress, read Cameron Peters's in-depth breakdown here.
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