Republican House members are saying privately that they expect a government shutdown early next month, even if it’s just for a few days, Axios reported.

“House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will have to choose in coming weeks between a fight with Democrats that threatens a shutdown or a deal with Democrats that threatens his job,” the report said.

Congress has not passed any of the appropriations bills for the fiscal year that started Oct. 1. Appropriators are working on a deal, but some Republicans are frustrated a compromise would not include conservative policy riders.

“Johnson effectively has three options: a short-term funding bill, which Johnson has been skeptical of, a yearlong CR that would cut spending by 1% beginning April 1, or the bipartisan compromise package, which is expected to emerge in the coming days,” Punchbowl News reported.

The Timeline

March 1: Funding expires for part of the federal government, including military construction and Veterans Affairs.

March 8: Funding expires for the rest of the federal government, including defense.

April 30: If all 12 spending bills are not signed into law by this date, there will be an automatic 1% spending cut across all accounts.

Architect of the Capitol photo