There’s plenty of drama on the 2026 congressional agenda, from Obamacare to Venezuela. But lawmakers will probably manage to keep the lights on.

Just a couple months after the longest-ever government shutdown, another is looming at the end of the month if Congress doesn’t come to an agreement on spending.

Congress’ most liberal Democrats are pushing for an all-out fight to rein in President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policy after this week’s deadly shooting by an ICE officer in Minnesota — even if it means risking another government shutdown.

Congress has until Jan. 30 to avoid a partial shutdown by either passing nine funding bills, including crucial funding for national defense, or agreeing on a short-term spending plan.

When Congress ended the longest government shutdown in history last month, lawmakers only approved federal funding through the end of January.

Congress closed out 2025 with a significant accomplishment: passing the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which the president signed into law Dec. 18.

Lawmakers return to Washington this week, staring down an end-of-month deadline to avert another government shutdown.

During the government shutdown of fall 2025, the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm went on a spending spree, generously wining and dining deep-pocketed donors at luxury locales across the country, according to recently disclosed expense reports reviewed by the Washington Examiner.

Funding for much of the federal government runs out Jan. 30. If Congress doesn't approve a deal by then, it could lead to a partial shutdown.