Congressional lawmakers are already trading blame over the looming government shutdown , foreshadowing what will likely be a bitter partisan dispute over the next several weeks, as funding hangs in the balance.

Lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill this week as the threat of a shutdown at the end of the month intensified, and the familiar partisan fault lines reappeared.

"The House Republicans are committed to keeping the government, and unfortunately, it seems like not all Democrats agree with that, and they're beginning to apply their government to shut down pressure," House Speaker Mike Johnson , R-La., told reporters on Wednesday.

"If the government shuts down, it'll be because congressional Democrats rejected common sense solutions to fund the government," he said.

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