Congress Departs DC with Key Issues Unresolved as 2026 Deadlines Approach

With Congress on recess until January, lawmakers have left Washington without resolving several critical issues that could have significant consequences for Americans in the coming weeks. Both chambers departed Capitol Hill before Christmas, leaving a ghost town in their wake and a growing list of looming deadlines.

The most pressing concern is government funding, which remains incomplete despite Congress ending a record-breaking 43-day shutdown last month. Instead of finalizing the entire fiscal year 2026 budget, legislators passed only a portion of the necessary funding, postponing decisions on the majority of federal agencies until January 30.

Senate Republicans had hoped to secure an agreement on the remaining funding before the holiday break, but objections from senators in both parties prevented a vote. This creates a tight timeline when lawmakers return, as the House and Senate will have just eight days in joint session before the January 30 deadline. The Senate will be in session for 15 days total, while the House will have only 12 days to work with.

Healthcare costs represent another unresolved crisis facing millions of Americans. Starting in January, many citizens will see significant increases in their monthly healthcare premiums, yet Congress has failed to pass legislation addressing the issue.

For Affordable Care Act participants, part of the problem stems from COVID-19 pandemic-era enhanced subsidies that expire at the end of 2025. While most Republicans oppose extending these subsidies without major reforms, a small contingent of moderate GOP lawmakers has advocated for a temporary extension to allow time for developing a more permanent solution.

The House did manage to pass a healthcare reform bill aimed at expanding options in the commercial insurance marketplace before adjourning, but competing proposals in the Senate failed to advance. This unresolved issue will likely become a significant point of contention during the 2026 election cycle, with Democrats already positioning to leverage public frustration over rising healthcare costs.

The contentious issue of mid-decade redistricting has also created political turmoil across the country. President Donald Trump has actively encouraged Republican-controlled states to redraw congressional district lines to give the GOP an advantage in the upcoming midterm elections. In response, Democrat-led states like California have begun similar efforts to create more favorable maps for their party.

In Texas, where new maps could potentially give Republicans up to five additional House seats, the Supreme Court has issued an emergency stay on a lower court’s order that would have allowed the GOP initiative to proceed. Legal battles over California’s proposed redistricting are expected to continue well into 2026. Meanwhile, states including Virginia, Illinois, Alabama, and Louisiana might still attempt to redraw their districts before next November’s elections.

Several House members have introduced legislation attempting to prohibit mid-decade redistricting, but these efforts have gained little traction. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has taken a combative stance, warning, “Republicans may have started this redistricting battle. We as Democrats plan to finish it.” In contrast, Speaker Mike Johnson has largely stayed out of the fray, preferring to leave these decisions to state legislatures and the courts.

As 2026 approaches, these unresolved issues—government funding, healthcare costs, and redistricting battles—present significant challenges for Congress in the new year, particularly with the narrow window of time available to address them before critical deadlines arrive.