WASHINGTON – The longest-ever authorities shutdown is lastly over.
Congress would not have a lot time to keep away from one other.
The following funding deadline, Jan. 30, is fewer than three months away. And whereas it is not clear whether or not Democrats, divided over how the political mess in the end resolved after 43 days, will likely be keen for an additional showdown then, the political temperature in Washington doubtless will not be any cooler.
A final-minute ‘slush fund’ snag: 4 different key shutdown-ending moments
Obamacare cliff a key issue
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks contained in the Oval Workplace on the White Home in Washington, DC on Nov.12, 2025.
Except lawmakers take motion previous to the tip of the yr, the Jan. 30 cutoff date may even land simply weeks after the truth of Democrats’ central shutdown demand hits hundreds of thousands of Individuals. Their fundamental ask was to increase medical insurance subsidies that can expire after 2025, skyrocketing premiums throughout the nation for enrollees within the Inexpensive Care Act, also referred to as Obamacare.
Learn extra: These individuals have discovered their well being care on the heart of a shutdown showdown
However Democrats did not get what they needed.
As a substitute, a small group of them within the Senate accepted a suggestion from Republicans to carry a vote in mid-December on a invoice to unravel the issue. There is not any assure that invoice will cross, although.
Grasp stroke or dumb luck: Dems might win shutdown’s lengthy recreation
And even when any tentative Obamacare laws did make it by means of the Senate, it could in all probability face a good worse destiny within the Home of Representatives (to not point out the specter of a presidential veto).
Democratic management in Congress hasn’t explicitly known as for an additional funding combat come January. However progressives are nonetheless fuming about their average colleagues hanging an settlement with Republicans and the White Home that did not ship on the first objective they’d promised their constituents they’d combat for, tooth and nail.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks throughout a information convention on November 10, 2025 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
“We are going to proceed to get into good bother to make their lives higher,” mentioned Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, on the ground of the chamber Wednesday evening, Nov. 12. “That is our dedication to each single American all throughout this nation, from today and for every single day shifting ahead.”
VA, SNAP funded by means of September 2026
A person at a rally in Boston holds an indication in assist of SNAP advantages as meals assist was suspended beginning Nov. 1 amid the federal authorities shutdown.
If Democrats determine as soon as extra to threat the political fallout of one other shutdown, the impression doubtless will not be fairly as painful because the final six weeks.
That is as a result of the spending invoice that President Donald Trump signed on Thursday, Nov. 13, not less than partially funds the federal authorities for almost a full yr. A number of businesses and branches – together with the Division of Veterans Affairs, the Agriculture Division and Congress – acquired appropriations by means of September 2026. Key applications for meals help and veterans’ advantages can be safeguarded from one other potential lapse within the funds. Not like this time round, congressional staffers would not miss paychecks.
Learn extra: What’s within the deal to finish the federal government shutdown?
To maintain the remainder of the federal government open, nevertheless, Congress must cross the remainder of its annual appropriations payments or one other short-term funding extension earlier than Jan. 30.
In any other case, Individuals might as soon as once more really feel the steadily intensifying ache of air journey disruptions, shuttered preschools and most of the similar penalties they only confronted for greater than a month.
Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You possibly can attain him by e mail at zschermele@usatoday.com. Observe him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: One other shutdown combat could possibly be simply across the nook