The prospect of Congress passing fiscal 2025 spending bills and other contentious legislation before the end of the year dimmed significantly after Tuesday’s elections.
Former President Donald Trump’s victory will put the White House back in Republican control come January, and GOP candidates are poised to wrest the Senate majority from Democrats. Numerous House races have yet to be called, but a Republican trifecta remains possible.
Congress’ new makeup next year — paired with the threat of vetoes from the Oval Office — provides little incentive for GOP appropriators to hustle to strike a deal with Democrats this December.
Lawmakers punted the government funding deadline to Dec. 20 before leaving for their preelection recess. Now, Republicans could opt to kick the spending debates into the new year to avoid a Christmastime shutdown and secure the kinds of conservative spending bills they have been unable to advance during the Biden administration.
