Congress returns November 9 for a lame-duck session following the 2026 midterms, facing a December 11 funding expiration under the current continuing resolution enacted in September. Lawmakers must pass full-year appropriations bills or another stopgap measure before that date to avert a lapse, with appropriations committees scheduled to restart negotiations the following week. Recent history includes multiple funding lapses since 2025, and the post-election shift in congressional control introduces new dynamics around spending priorities, policy riders, and the need for bipartisan support. Traders weigh the shared incentive to avoid disruption against partisan disagreements on defense, domestic programs, and supplemental funding. Scheduled votes on related measures, including the defense authorization bill, add near-term catalysts.