Congress faces a crowded lame-duck agenda and funding deadline

Congress has a Dec. 11 funding deadline alongside unfinished FY2027 appropriations, the defense authorization bill, and transportation reauthorization; another continuing resolution appears likelier than the $1.5 trillion defense request. A preliminary House vote on Thomas Massie’s Hegseth impeachment effort is expected, and Massie may force action on an Epstein-records petition; a new House panel report alleges failures in the Epstein case and calls for DOJ follow-up, while saying it found no evidence linking Trump to Epstein’s network. Corn growers are also pressing for E15 and farm-bill action before year’s end.