Government shutdown looms as Congress returns after monthlong August recess

Congressional Republicans scored an enormous victory this summer season after they handed President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” of tax and spending cuts and not using a single Democratic vote. But as they return to Washington this fall after a monthlong August recess, they must discover a method to work with Democrats — or round them — as a authorities shutdown looms.

The annual spending battle will dominate the September agenda, together with a doable effort by Senate Republicans to alter their chamber’s guidelines to thwart Democratic stalling techniques on nominations. The Senate can also be debating whether or not to maneuver ahead on laws that will slap steep tariffs on a few of Russia’s buying and selling companions as the U.S. pressures Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine.

In the House, Republicans will proceed their investigations of former President Joe Biden whereas Republican Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana navigates a break up in his convention over whether or not the Trump administration ought to launch extra information within the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

A have a look at what Congress might be doing as lawmakers return from the August break:

Avoiding a authorities shutdown

The most pressing job for Congress is to keep away from a authorities shutdown on Sept. 30, when federal funding runs out. And it is so far unclear if Republicans and Democrats will be capable to agree on how to do this.

Congress must go a short-term spending measure to maintain the federal government funded for a number of weeks or months whereas they attempt to end the full-year package deal. But Republicans will want Democratic votes to go an extension, and Democrats will need vital concessions. The determination by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to vote with Republicans to keep away from a shutdown in March prompted livid backlash inside his celebration.

The Trump administration’s efforts to claw again beforehand accepted spending may additionally complicate the negotiations. Republicans handed laws this summer season that rescinded about $9 billion in overseas help and public broadcasting funds and Trump notified Congress once more on Friday that he’ll block $4.9 billion in congressionally accepted overseas help.

Democrats have warned that such efforts may tank the broader negotiations. “Trump is rooting for a shutdown,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., posted on social media Friday.

Senate nominations combat

Senators are anticipated to return to Washington proper the place they left off in early August — preventing over Trump’s nominees.

Exasperated Republicans fled Washington for the month after making little headway with Senate Democrats over their nominations blockade, which has compelled delays in confirmations and angered Trump as a lot of his administration’s positions stay unfilled. Republican leaders known as it quits after a uncommon Saturday session that ended with a breakdown in bipartisan negotiations and Trump posting on social media that Chuck Schumer may “GO TO HELL!”

Republicans now say they’re able to try to change Senate guidelines to get across the Democratic delays, and they’re anticipated to spend the subsequent a number of weeks discussing how that may work.

Russian sanctions

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, considered one of Trump’s closest congressional allies, has pushed the president for months to assist his sweeping bipartisan sanctions invoice that will impose steep tariffs on international locations which can be fueling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by shopping for its oil, gasoline, uranium, and different exports. The laws has the backing of 85 senators, however Trump has but to endorse it, and Republican leaders have up to now stated they will not transfer with out him.

Graham has stepped up his calls after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy final month in hopes of a peace deal. Since then, Russia has continued to step up assaults on Ukraine.

“If we don’t have this thing moving in the right direction by the time we get back, then I think that plan B needs to kick in,” Graham stated of his invoice in an interview with The Associated Press final month.

Oversight of the CDC

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy will seem earlier than the Senate Finance Committee to debate his well being care agenda on Thursday, lower than every week after he ousted Susan Monarez as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Several different high officers additionally resigned in protest.

Kennedy has tried to advance anti-vaccine insurance policies which can be contradicted by many years of scientific analysis. Monarez’s attorneys stated she refused “to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts.”

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, the Republican chairman of the HELP panel that oversees the CDC and a member of the Finance Committee, has known as on the CDC to delay a gathering of out of doors specialists who make suggestions on the usage of vaccines till Congress can look into the problem.

Divisions over Epstein

The House left Washington in July amid disagreements amongst Republicans about whether or not they need to power the Trump administration to launch extra data on the intercourse trafficking investigation into the late Jeffrey Epstein. The strain for extra disclosure may solely get extra intense when lawmakers return.

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky are pushing the House to take up their invoice to power the Department of Justice to publicly launch its investigation. They are planning a information convention this week joined by Epstein victims. The House Oversight Committee can also be investigating the problem.

Democrats are keen to maintain urgent on the Epstein information, particularly after the Trump administration reneged on pledges for transparency. The case for years has been the topic of on-line conspiracy theories and hypothesis about who might have been concerned or conscious of the rich financier’s abuse.

Investigating Biden

The House Oversight Committee will return from August recess with a slate of interviews lined up as a part of its investigation into former President Joe Biden’s psychological state whereas in workplace. The committee has already carried out interviews and depositions with almost a dozen former high Biden aides and members of the president’s internal circle.

The Republican-led committee will hear from former high Biden staffers in September like Jeff Zients, Biden’s last White House chief of employees, Karine Jean-Pierre, the previous White House press secretary, and Andrew Bates, a high press aide.

Oversight Chair James Comer, R-Ky., has stated public hearings and a full report will be anticipated someday within the fall.

Stock buying and selling ban

Congress has mentioned proposals for years to maintain lawmakers from participating in buying and selling particular person shares, nodding to the concept there is a potential battle of curiosity when they’re usually aware about data and choices that may dramatically transfer markets.

That push is now gaining momentum. A Senate committee has accepted laws from GOP Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri that will additionally prolong the prohibition on inventory buying and selling to future presidents and vice presidents — whereas notably exempting Trump. In the House, a number of members are placing ahead proposals and even threatening to maneuver round GOP management to power a vote.

Still, there may be loads of resistance to the thought, together with from many rich lawmakers who reap dividends from their portfolios.