Congressional Democrats may just surrender rather than risk catching blame for shutting down a government that Republicans are gutting.

Both parties have tried to place blame on the other for the looming threat of a shutdown. Democrats are trying to get some input on spending levels in negotiations they were cut out of by coming out against it and calling for bipartisan talks, while the GOP is telling voters Democrats are trying to shut down the government.

House Democratic leaders are urging their members to oppose the stopgap spending bill Republicans plan to bring to the floor on Tuesday, according to aides and lawmakers. This raises the likelihood that the government could shut down on March 14.

Lawmakers have just one week left to reach a federal funding deal or trigger a partial government shutdown that would shutter some Defense Department and Veterans Affairs services. Current federal funding runs out March 14,