There is growing expectation the U.S. government could shut down again as early as the end of January. With Senate Democrats pulling away in budget talks, the timetable for the digital asset market structure bill’s review could be disrupted. Multiple outlets report that Senate Democrats are taking a hard line in response to President Trump’s policy moves. As a result, discussions on the budgets for Defense, Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services—major agencies that account for about two-thirds of federal spending—are paused.
If the bill had passed, the federal government would have secured funding through September 2026. At present, with the January 30 budget deadline in sight, Democrats’ response remains unclear. Some progressive Democrats have not ruled out using the deadline to push for political concessions from Trump. Democrats are pressing for measures such as halting military action with Venezuela, releasing non-classified documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, and extending year-end subsidies for health insurance premiums.
Senators did not reach agreement on amendments before their recess, and floor debate is likely to be pushed to after the first week of January. Some Democrats view the 43-day government shutdown in October–November as a political win. If the government shuts down again, Congress would need to refocus on funding, delaying discussions of the market-structure legislation for digital assets. David Sacks, the Trump administration’s crypto assets czar, said the bill would enter January Senate hearings.
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