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Congressional Republicans are returning to Washington this fall riding high from a major legislative victory — passage of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending cuts with no Democratic support. But the triumph sets the stage for an even tougher political test in September: keeping the government open.
Federal funding is set to expire Sept. 30, and lawmakers must pass at least a short-term extension to avoid a shutdown. That will require cooperation from Democrats in both chambers, even as partisan fights intensify over spending levels, stalled nominations, and investigations into former President Joe Biden.
Shutdown threat dominates
The most urgent task is staving off a shutdown. Republicans must rely on Democrats to pass a stopgap spending bill, but Democrats are demanding concessions after Trump moved to block billions in previously approved foreign aid.
“Trump is rooting for a shutdown,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., warned on social media, as Democrats accused the administration of deliberately destabilizing negotiations.
The standoff recalls the March funding fight, when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., angered his party by siding with Republicans to avert a shutdown at the last minute.
Nominations blockade and rule fight
Senators will also pick up where they left off in August — locked in a battle over Trump’s nominees. Democrats have used procedural delays to stall confirmations, leaving many administration posts vacant and prompting an angry outburst from Trump directed at Schumer online.
Republican leaders say they are prepared to push for a rules change to speed up confirmations, a move that could escalate tensions further.
Russia sanctions and Ukraine
On foreign policy, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is pressing Trump to endorse a sweeping sanctions package targeting nations that fuel Russia’s war in Ukraine by purchasing oil, gas, and uranium. The bill has overwhelming bipartisan support, but Republican leaders have signaled they won’t advance it without Trump’s blessing.
Graham warned last month that if the administration resists, “Plan B needs to kick in.”
RFK Jr. faces Senate panel
Complicating matters further, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will testify before the Senate Finance Committee this week — just days after ousting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez.
Kennedy has advanced anti-vaccine policies rejected by mainstream science, prompting multiple resignations at the agency. Lawmakers from both parties are expected to press him sharply.
Epstein files stir House divisions
In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson must manage divisions among Republicans over whether the Trump administration should release more files from the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.
A bipartisan group, including Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., is pushing legislation to force the Justice Department’s hand. Victims of Epstein are expected to join lawmakers at a press conference demanding transparency.
GOP probes Biden’s mental fitness
Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee plans new interviews as part of its probe into Biden’s mental acuity during his presidency. Former aides including Jeff Zients, Karine Jean-Pierre, and Andrew Bates are expected to testify, with Chair James Comer, R-Ky., promising a report this fall.
Stock trading ban resurfaces
Lawmakers are also reviving a push to bar members of Congress from trading individual stocks. A Senate panel advanced a bill by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., that would extend the prohibition to future presidents and vice presidents — though it notably exempts Trump.
Resistance remains strong among wealthy lawmakers who profit from the markets, raising doubts about whether the effort can succeed.
