Congress’s first task post-midterms is to figure out how to keep funding America—and that’s before it addresses the $40 trillion national debt

Congress returns from the midterms facing a funding deadline to keep the U.S. government operating, a fight that must be resolved before lawmakers turn to the nation’s roughly $40 trillion national debt. The article frames the immediate task as figuring out how to keep funding America, with the debt load looming as a separate, larger challenge. It cites a call for Washington to heed voters’ demand that leaders focus on pocketbook issues while also acting as stewards of the country’s fiscal future. The outcome matters because a funding lapse would disrupt federal operations, while the debt debate will shape fiscal policy beyond the current budget cycle. What to watch next is whether Congress can pass a stopgap or full-year funding measure and how quickly it then pivots to the debt.