Congress returns to DC with a packed agenda and a looming shutdown. (E&E News)
Lawmakers have until January 30 to finish fiscal 2026 spending bills, with Energy-Water and Interior-Environment still unresolved. Grid modernization, DOE programs, climate research, and FEMA resilience funding are all tied up in talks that could stall—or shrink—under shutdown pressure.
Bipartisan negotiations on permitting reform are wobbling after the Trump administration paused five offshore wind projects, prompting Senate Democrats to pull back.
The energy battle now shifts to the March highway bill, where GOP leaders plan to target EVs with new annual fees, while Democrats threaten to block any permitting deals until the White House stops attacking clean energy.