Congress’s top priorities this lame duck session

Here’s a look at what lawmakers are most focused on in these final weeks of the 118th Congress

article-image

Sergii Figurnyi/Shutterstock modified by Blockworks

share


This is a segment from the Forward Guidance newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe.


As the so-called lame duck session of Congress (the period between Election Day and the end of the Congressional term) rages on, here’s a look at what lawmakers are most focused on in these final weeks of the 118th Congress: 

Judicial nominations

A top priority for Senate Democrats has been getting as many of President Biden’s judicial nominations approved before the party loses its majority. Democrats and Republicans have reportedly come to an agreement to consider seven district court judges after the Thanksgiving recess, with an additional six being placed on the calendar in December. Donald Trump cleared 234 total judges during his first term, while Biden so far has had 221 of his picks confirmed. 

The budget

Lawmakers in September passed a short-term extension that will fund the government through Dec. 20. They now must either extend again or pass a full fiscal year spending bill. Given the Republican’s newfound power, they are likely not motivated to negotiate a full bill in the next three weeks, so another extension seems most plausible. 

A recess appointment scheme? 

Rumors are circulating that Trump is considering recess appointments — which involve trying to forcibly adjourn Congress — to get some of his cabinet picks through. The practice — used by former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton — has been made more difficult by recent Supreme Court interpretation, which allows Congress to block recess appointments. 

There is speculation that the House could agree to recess while Trump uses Constitutional powers to force the Senate to adjourn. It sounds a bit far fetched, but we will be monitoring the situation.


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Upcoming Events

Javits Center North | 445 11th Ave

Tues - Thurs, March 24 - 26, 2026

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Monad SR Report Graphic.png

Research

Monad is a new Layer 1 blockchain designed as a high performance, EVM-compatible platform.

article-image

Engineers from MetaMask, Coinbase, Google, and the Ethereum Foundation make the case for onchain AI agents via ERC-8004

article-image

Legacy payments firm partners with Anchorage Digital to issue a dollar-pegged token under new US stablecoin law

by Blockworks /
article-image

As Solana ETFs launch but network REV trends lower, Jito sits at the intersection of new capital inflows and microstructure improvements

article-image

The Truth Social parent will integrate Crypto.com Derivatives North America, allowing users to trade prediction contracts under federal oversight

by Blockworks /
article-image

Partnership surpasses $2 billion in staked assets and adds support for new Proof-of-Stake networks

by Blockworks /
article-image

The tokenization leader will merge with Cantor Equity Partners II, becoming the first public firm focused on securities tokenization

by Blockworks /