"Congress Faces Imminent Shutdown Risk Amid Spending and Impeachment Brawl"

The US Congress is set to face a political showdown over spending cuts and impeachment, with the threat of a government shutdown looming. The House and Senate have limited time to agree on a package of appropriations bills before funding expires on September 30. House Republicans, including the hardline House Freedom Caucus, are demanding spending cuts for fiscal 2024, which has been rejected by the White House and Senate leaders. Other hardline demands, such as opposition to Ukraine aid and calls for an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden, could further complicate efforts to pass a short-term stopgap. The political brinkmanship over the debt ceiling has already led to a downgrade in the US debt rating.