Congress returns for final 2024 lame-duck sprint

Washington — Congress returns this week from a Thanksgiving recess with a lot of priorities to get via earlier than the top of the 12 months, 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 via an inventory of to-dos within the coming weeks within the lame-duck session, whereas Republicans gear up for management in Washington subsequent 12 months. 

However first, Congress should handle authorities funding, since lawmakers solely have till Dec. 20 to approve new spending. And though a shutdown stays unlikely, leaders might want to attain an settlement on a short-term funding measure within the weeks forward. 

Funding the federal government 

In September, lawmakers approved a continuing resolution to maintain the federal government funded via 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 bundle 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 alter the calculus. 

Republicans seem prone 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 battle over authorities spending, with Republicans set to regulate the Home, Senate and the White Home — and seeking 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 deal with the aftermath of Hurricanes Milton and Helene within the southeast. 

The funding battle comes as Johnson is seeking to maintain onto his gavel within the new 12 months, with a slim Home majority that is confirmed problematic for Republicans searching for the speakership lately. Republicans have already selected 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 prime posts in his administration this week, seeking 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 title from consideration for Legal professional Normal 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 ready to fulfill with former Florida Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi, who Trump tapped for Attorney General 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 figure, 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 steer the newly coined Division of Authorities Effectivity or DOGE, may also 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 ready to fulfill Thursday to additional contemplate whether or not to launch the report about its investigation into Gaetz, after the evenly break up bipartisan panel did not reach an agreement in an hourslong assembly final month. 

A day later, Gaetz withdrew his title from consideration, additional complicating the ethics committee’s choice about whether or not to launch the report. Gaetz’ resignation from the Home after his choice for lawyer common had ended the committee’s jurisdiction over him, making the discharge of the report all of the extra controversial. The Republican committee chairmen stated he voted in opposition to the discharge of the report over the jurisdiction subject. 

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 working for Florida governor down the highway. 

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 12 months, the Ethics Committee resumed its work, after prosecutors 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 fulfill Tuesday to elect their management for the subsequent 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 searching 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 closing push on their agenda, with a give attention to confirming President Biden’s remaining nominees to the nation’s courts. Democrats are hoping to fulfill or surpass Trump’s 234 judicial confirmations from his first time period through the lame-duck session, however have run into resistance from Republicans seeking to maintain up and drag out the method.