118th Congress in Session; Lawmakers Negotiated $1.66 trillion deal to avert a Government Shutdown

High-stakes talks over government funding and border security are set to collide when Congress returns to session this week, presenting lawmakers with two politically prickly matters that carry serious implications.

Congressional leaders announced a deal on top-line spending numbers Sunday afternoon, lowering the chances of a government shutdown as the first of two funding deadlines fast approaches. A number of hurdles, however, remain — including the threat by some House conservatives to shut down the government unless they receive substantive border security policy.

That posture comes as Senate negotiators are inching closer to a long-awaited deal on border security. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), the top GOP negotiator, said text could be released as soon as this week.

Also this week, the House Homeland Security Committee is scheduled to hold its first impeachment hearing for Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, accelerating the panel’s effort against the embattled department head as the GOP conference sounds the alarm about the situation at the southern border.

And the House Oversight Committee and House Judiciary Committee are slated to mark up a resolution to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress after the president’s son defied a congressional subpoena and did not appear at a scheduled deposition with the panel.