Democrats face heavy lift on Biden agenda as GOP stands by

WASHINGTON — Congress must fund the government in the next 10 days, or risk a federal shutdown.

Raise the nation’s borrowing limit, or default on its debt.

All this while Democratic lawmakers are laboring to shoulder President Joe Biden’s massive $3.5 trillion “build back better” agenda through the House and Senate with stark opposition from Republicans.

The magnitude of the challenges ahead and the speed required to accomplish the job are like nothing Congress has faced in recent memory, situating Biden’s entire domestic agenda and the political fate of his Democratic party at a crucial moment.

On Monday, the Democratic leaders backed by the White House announced they would push ahead on one front — with a vote to fund the government and raise the debt limit, all but daring Republicans to oppose the package and risk the crisis.