Congress returns for remaining 2024 lame-duck dash

Washington — Congress returns this week from a Thanksgiving recess with plenty of priorities to get by means of earlier than the tip of the yr, whereas a deadline to fund the federal government looms over lawmakers. 

With the brand new Congress set to be sworn in on Jan. 3, lawmakers are pushing by means of a listing of to-dos within the coming weeks within the lame-duck session, whereas Republicans gear up for management in Washington subsequent yr. 

However first, Congress should handle authorities funding, since lawmakers solely have till Dec. 20 to fund the federal government. And though a shutdown stays unlikely, leaders might want to attain an settlement on a brief time period funding measure within the weeks forward. 

Funding the federal government 

In September, lawmakers accepted a unbroken decision to maintain the federal government funded by means of Dec. 20, setting a pre-holiday deadline to forestall a shutdown that has turn out to be commonplace for Congress. With frustration amongst some conservatives over the observe, Home Speaker Mike Johnson made clear on the time that he opposed an omnibus package deal to fund the federal government, suggesting that the Home would work to approve the 12 full-year spending payments individually after the election. However the favorable outcomes for Republicans within the 2024 elections appeared to vary the calculus. 

Republicans seem more likely to push to punt the deadline into the early days of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, although the precise timeline for the stopgap measure stays a key query. The deadline will tee up a bigger struggle over authorities spending, with Republicans set to manage the Home, Senate and the White Home — and trying to make vital spending cuts whereas juggling the extension of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. 

Lawmakers even have catastrophe help to think about after the Biden administration requested $98 billion in help to handle the aftermath of Hurricanes Milton and Helene within the southeast. 

The funding struggle comes as Johnson is trying to maintain onto his gavel within the new yr, with a slim Home majority that is confirmed problematic for Republicans looking for the speakership lately. Republicans have already chosen Johnson to be their nominee for speaker in January, and the total Home will elect a speaker when lawmakers are sworn in subsequent month.

Senate Republicans meet with Trump’s administration picks

Senate Republicans are anticipated to proceed assembly with Trump’s picks for high posts in his administration this week, trying to safe assist within the higher chamber, which has the position of confirming the meant nominees. 

Forward of their recess, Senate Republicans met with Trump picks together with Pete Hegseth and former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who then opted to withdraw his identify from consideration for Lawyer Common following intense scrutiny over a Home Ethics Committee investigation into alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. On Monday, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is about to satisfy with former Florida Lawyer Common Pam Bondi, who Trump tapped for Lawyer Common after Gaetz withdrew.

Trump has continued to announce his picks for the highest posts, together with Kash Patel, a 44-year-old who served in intelligence and protection roles in Trump’s first time period and has a status as a controversial determine, for FBI director. The announcement got here as Trump-nominated Christopher Wray’s time period is not set to run out till 2027.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who Trump tapped to guide the newly coined Division of Authorities Effectivity or DOGE, can even be on Capitol Hill this week, assembly Thursday with Senate and Home Republicans.

Home Ethics Committee meets to think about Gaetz report

The Home Ethics Committee is about to satisfy Thursday to additional think about whether or not to launch the report about its investigation into Gaetz, after the evenly break up bipartisan panel didn’t attain an settlement in an hourslong assembly final month. 

A day later, Gaetz withdrew his identify from consideration, additional complicating the ethics committee’s resolution about whether or not to launch the report. Gaetz’ resignation from the Home after his choice for legal professional normal had ended the committee’s jurisdiction over him, making the discharge of the report all of the extra controversial. The Republican committee chairmen mentioned he voted in opposition to the discharge of the report over the jurisdiction concern. 

Nonetheless, some view the report’s launch as important if Gaetz is eyeing different places of work, like one other submit inside Trump’s administration or operating for Florida governor down the street. 

The ethics committee’s investigation first started in 2021, however was placed on pause because the Justice Division carried out a intercourse trafficking and obstruction probe of Gaetz. Final yr, the Ethics Committee resumed its work, after the DOJ declined to cost Gaetz, who has denied all wrongdoing. 

Senate Democrats maintain management elections

Senate Democrats, who might be within the minority within the new Congress, are anticipated to satisfy Tuesday to elect their management for the following two years, after Republicans flipped the chamber within the 2024 elections. 

Although the highest posts in Democratic management are anticipated to stay unchanged, with Democratic chief Chuck Schumer and whip Dick Durbin looking for to stay of their roles, the no. 3 submit is up for grabs as Sen. Debbie Stabenow set to retire. 

Stabenow, who’s leaving the Senate after greater than 20 years, chairs the Democratic Coverage and Communications Committee. The submit has been eyed by Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

The management races come as Senate Democrats are making a remaining push on their agenda, with a give attention to confirming President Biden’s remaining nominees to the nation’s courts. Democrats are hoping to satisfy or surpass Trump’s 234 judicial confirmations from his first time period in the course of the lame-duck session, however have run into resistance from Republicans trying to maintain up and drag out the method.