Lawmakers arrive back in D.C. today with a busy few weeks ahead. Here are some of the things to look for.

NDAA Work Resumes Today

The Senate is scheduled to begin procedural votes on the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act this evening, according to a notice from Senate Democrats.

The House Rules Committee is scheduled to meet Monday to consider which of hundreds of amendments will be allowed floor time when that chamber begins debating its version of the NDAA later next week, Politico reported.

Shutdown Countdown Is Ticking

There are now four weeks until the fiscal year ends, and lawmakers don’t seem close to finishing the 12 appropriations bills, meaning a continuing resolution is likely and a government shutdown is possible.

The House has passed its version of the defense spending bill, but the Senate has not, according to the Congress.gov appropriations tracker. Both chambers have passed their versions of the military construction-VA bill, but there’s no compromise bill yet. Neither chamber has approved a Homeland Security spending bill, which funds the Coast Guard.

Other Hot Topics

Even as spending deadlines approach, Congress will be juggling other issues, too, including global conflicts, the Epstein investigation, immigration, military deployments to U.S. cities, vaccine guidance changes, tariff policy and other topics in the fast-moving news of the day.

Architect of the Capitol photo