WASHINGTON -- With a fight over border wall funding still brewing, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are fast approaching a budget deadline.

• Lawmakers need to pass key budget bills by Dec. 7 to avoid a partial shutdown
• President Trump says $5 billion is needed to fund a border wall along the Mexican border
• A partial shutdown would interrupt government services

President Donald Trump is threatening to shut down the government if he does not get $5 billion in funding for his wall along the Mexican border, an idea that was the centerpiece of his campaign. Democrats argue that is too much.

“That is a nonstarter, President Trump knows that is not a nonstarter,” said Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.).

Lawmakers need to pass key budget bills by Friday, Dec. 7 to avoid a partial government shutdown. Congress and the White House have already agreed on several agency budgets, including the budget for the Department of Defense.

Still, a partial government shutdown would interrupt government services and impact thousands of federal workers. Lawmakers have not agreed to a budget for the Department of Homeland Security, for example.

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The GOP, fueled by recent scenes playing out along the southern border, want to see more money for the wall. House Republicans are backing the $5 billion plan.

Republican congressman Virginia Foxx recently signed onto a bill that would fund the wall at the level the president is requesting.

“A country that is not able to secure its border cannot control who comes in, so it's extremely important that we do that,” said the North Carolina lawmaker.

The president has delayed fights over the wall in the past, and even seemed to backtrack on his shutdown threat in an interview with the Washington Post.

However, this time could be different. Republicans are about to lose control in the House. With Democrats in power starting next year, it effectively eliminates the chance of the president getting wall funding at the level he wants down the road.

Already, lawmakers are playing the blame game.

“If president Trump wants to throw a temper tantrum and shut down some departments and agencies over Christmas, that’s certainly within his power,” said Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), the Senate minority leader

Can some middle ground be found? Lawmakers are hoping for some sort of agreement.

“I think our folks who are at the leadership tables will be come up with a compromise so that we’re able to deal with this,” Foxx said.