KEY POINTS
  • Washington and Wall Street were optimistic Monday that Congress can pass a bill to fund the government and avert a partial shutdown before a Friday deadline.
  • Democrats and Republicans appeared to be coalescing around a bill to fund the government through late January or early February, a personal familiar with the discussions told CNBC.
  • A lapse in government funding can lead to furloughs of federal workers and a lapse in some government services.
  • Congress has a long list of priorities in the coming weeks, including funding the government, raising or suspending the debt limit, the annual defense budget bill and Democrats $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act.
The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021.

Washington and Wall Street were optimistic Monday that Congress can pass a bill to fund the government and avert a partial shutdown before a Friday deadline.

It was unclear for how long lawmakers would try to keep the government running. Democrats have a list of priorities in the coming weeks as they try to avoid a shutdown, pass their $1.75 trillion Build Back Better bill, boost the debt limit and approve a new defense budget bill.