Congress Faces Packed Year-end Agenda After Midterm Elections

After next Tuesday's midterm elections, Congress will return with a crowded lame-duck agenda and limited time to address government funding and other unfinished business. The election results will help determine whether lawmakers pursue major agreements before year's end or defer difficult decisions to 2027.

The most immediate deadline is Dec. 11, when temporary government funding expires. Lawmakers must approve full-year spending legislation or another short-term extension to prevent a shutdown. Congressional leaders from both parties have stated a clear desire to avoid a government shutdown, but their expectations for how to resolve the Dec. 11 deadline differ significantly based on the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections.

Congress also faces pressure to complete the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets defense policy, and address expiring authorities for transportation, agriculture, healthcare and other federal programs. Temporary extensions could keep programs operating if broader agreements remain out of reach.

Other proposals, including energy permitting reform, selected tax provisions, water infrastructure and healthcare measures, could compete for space in year-end legislation.

This article was provided to OSAP by ASAE's Power of Associations and Inroads.