is my current passport still valid

I started the renewal process for my U.S. passport and all I need to do now is to give my current passport, fee and id photo to complete the process. My question is if I don't finish my renewal is my current passport still eligible even though I started the renewal process because it does not expire for another 14 months? Is it too early to renew? Will I be able to depart internationally on an upcoming trip from December 2025 to February 2026 ?