Congress returns to session Monday after a three-week holiday break. Rather than easing into 2024, lawmakers are immediately facing yet another government funding showdown. Funds expire Jan. 19 for four of the 12 annual appropriations bills, including the bill covering USDA and FDA operations.
If funding is not secured prior to expiration, a partial government shutdown would begin Jan. 20. Lapses in funding were narrowly averted several times in 2023, but continued disagreements could cause the first shutdown in five years. The most recent incident was the longest in history, lasting 35…
