House and Senate members are heading back to Washington after their time in their districts, gearing up for some crucial discussions in the upcoming weeks.
Tuesday marks the conclusion of Congress’ annual August recess. Lawmakers face several pressing deadlines, which could potentially extend President Donald Trump’s influence over D.C. law enforcement as they aim to sidestep government shutdowns.
Government Funding
The House and Senate have only 14 days together before the government’s funding deadline on September 30, and there’s still no consensus on spending priorities for fiscal year 2026.
To avert disruptions, they may need to consider extending the 2025 funding level through a continuing resolution (CR).
Democrats are expressing dissatisfaction with Republican efforts to retract previously allocated funds, indicating they’re prepared to play tough.
Senate Majority Leader John Toon (Rs.D.) needs to navigate the Senate filibuster hurdle. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is still advocating for a bipartisan approach, although trust seems to be waning.
White House officials mentioned that they believe Democrats might find themselves in a challenging position which could lead to blaming them for any shutdowns, assuming no changes or riders are incorporated.
Nonetheless, Republicans don’t have much margin for error. With two special elections in solidly blue areas before September 30, the House GOP majority might shrink from three to two.
Epstein File
This week, bipartisan efforts concerning the release of Department of Justice (DOJ) records related to Jeffrey Epstein are expected to gain momentum, despite the DOJ’s agreement to provide a portion of the files to the House committee.
Rep. Thomas Massey (R-KY) is spearheading a discharge petition, a tool that could force a vote on the matter, provided he gathers enough support from the House members.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has publicly criticized this push, describing it as a tactic of minority parties, insisting that all Republicans support transparency regarding Epstein.
Khanna recently stated that he and Massey are determined enough to secure the votes needed for the proposal.
Capitol Hill Prepares for High-Stakes Battles
This week also marks the expiration of Trump’s 30-day hold regarding actions related to the D.C. police, unless Congress opts to extend it.
Last month, Trump designated the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) as federal to enhance crime control in the city. Under the D.C. Home Rules Act, his authority over local law enforcement could remain for 30 days, unless Congress issues a joint resolution for an extension.
Trump has also suggested that declaring a national emergency could enable him to sidestep Congress on this issue. Moreover, there doesn’t appear to be a legal end date for the federal troops he deployed.
While the path forward remains uncertain, a leadership aide suggested that House leaders are collaborating with the White House on proposed legislation concerning crime in D.C.
Trump Candidates
Senate Republicans struggled to finalize numerous low-level nominations before their recent break.
Currently, Trump has 145 nominees lined up on the executive calendar, and there is optimism he’ll navigate the committee successfully as lawmakers address his agenda.
Republicans appear ready to implement drastic measures to secure progress with Senate Democrats, essentially aiming for unilateral changes in the Senate rules without creating significant pushback.
The Senate GOP is set to convene this week to discuss suggested rule modifications, such as streamlining discussion times for certain nominees, consolidating them into bundled votes, or even bypassing votes for a few candidates altogether.
