Democrats in Congress see potential shutdown as leverage to counter Trump

Republicans will need Democrats' help to pass funding bill by 14 March as hard-right lawmakers push to cut costs

With the US federal government expected to shut down in one month unless Congress approves a funding bill, Democratic lawmakers are wrestling with just how far they are willing to go to push back against Donald Trump's radical rightwing agenda that has thrown American politics into turmoil.

Specifically, Democrats appear divided on the question of whether they would be willing to endure a shutdown to demonstrate their outrage over the president's attempted overhaul of the federal government.