Congress faces a December 11, 2026, funding deadline under the current continuing resolution signed in September, requiring action on FY2027 appropriations or another stopgap measure to prevent a lapse starting December 12. Lawmakers return after the November 3 midterms for a lame-duck session with limited time to negotiate spending levels, policy riders, and priorities such as defense and disaster relief. House passage of several appropriations bills contrasts with Senate inaction, while election results will determine negotiating leverage between parties. Traders monitor these dynamics because historical patterns show that divided outcomes or disputes over topline funding often extend talks and raise the risk of temporary lapses, though broad bipartisan incentives favor avoiding disruptions to agency operations.