Congress returns Monday with urgent deadlines looming. Government funding expires Dec. 11, forcing lawmakers to pass either a continuing resolution or full-year appropriations bills to avoid a shutdown.
The federal debt hit $40 trillion in September and bumps against the $41.1 trillion ceiling set in the GOP's 2025 budget reconciliation law. The Bipartisan Policy Center said Treasury is likely to hit its maximum borrowing capacity by mid-summer. A Bank of America estimate from Nov. 6 suggests the U.S. may no longer be able to meet all its obligations by November 2027.
Some Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, have called for Congress to raise the debt limit before Republicans lose control. But Democrats may prefer to use the debt limit as a bargaining chip in the next Congress.
Appropriations bills and continuing resolutions require 60-vote Senate majorities due to the filibuster threshold. Democrats won commanding majorities in both chambers and are unlikely to negotiate a full year of government funding before the new Congress is sworn in. Sen. Patty Murray, the presumptive chair of the Appropriations Committee, posted on X: "This former preschool teacher is going to teach President Trump a simple lesson: The power of the purse belongs to CONGRESS!"
The Senate Appropriations Committee chair, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, lost reelection to Democrat Troy Jackson, removing a key voice in spending talks.
Congress also faces votes on the National Defense Authorization Act, a construction permitting bill, and regulations on college athlete compensation. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces impeachment articles when Congress returns.