Government shutdown January 2018: Trump, Congress look set for battle

President Trump and his congressional counterparts are about to face a slew of deadlines that could result in a shutdown to begin the new year. Congress must pass legislation to fund the government by January 19 to avoid a partial government shutdown. Negotiations look set to be fraught, as Republicans and Democrats alike will attempt to resolve a series of legislative issues by attaching other agenda items to the must-pass bill. Congress punted twice on dealing with government funding before the holiday break, extending it for weeks-long periods as Republicans rushed to pass their tax bill. With the tax bill passed, the probability of a shutdown this time around is higher, said Isaac Boltansky and Lukas Davaz, analysts at the research firm Compass Point.