Democrats are expected to win majorities in both the House and Senate, ending Republicans’ control of Congress and narrowing President Donald Trump’s room to advance his agenda in the second half of his term. The new Congress is set to move quickly on health insurance subsidies, tariffs and the Iran war, while Democratic lawmakers are also preparing investigations into Trump and his allies.
The shift will reshape Washington’s balance of power, but it will not strip Trump of his ability to shape policy. He can veto legislation, while Democrats face the Senate filibuster and the high threshold required to override a veto. Legislative clashes and investigations are likely to dominate the congressional agenda over the next two years.
Trump threatens vetoes as Democrats take control
Trump has emphasized his veto power when discussing how he would work with a Democratic-led Congress. In an interview with Fox News, he said he would reject legislation he considered “ridiculous,” while suggesting the two sides might eventually negotiate. He had previously said he would veto every bill if Republicans lost control of Congress.
Trump has not laid out a detailed plan for the remainder of his term. He has said his priority is to continue existing policies and suggested he could become “Mr. Veto” if Democrats return to power. The remarks point to a prolonged contest between the White House and Congress over legislation.
Democrats target health subsidies, Medicaid cuts and tariffs
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who is expected to keep his post, is preparing a package of bills for the new Congress when it convenes in January. Democrats plan to use the first 100 hours after lawmakers are sworn in to seek the restoration of enhanced health insurance subsidies that have expired and reverse Medicaid cuts signed into law by Trump this year.
They also intend to introduce legislation to roll back Trump’s broad tariffs and reaffirm Congress’s role in setting import taxes. Another measure would seek to end the war with Iran or require the administration to obtain congressional authorization to continue fighting. Democrats have made the cost of living a priority, with gasoline and food prices among their main concerns.
Whether any of the proposals become law remains uncertain. Overriding a presidential veto requires two-thirds support in both chambers, a threshold Democrats are not expected to meet on their own. In the Senate, they are also expected to fall short of the 60 votes generally needed to overcome a filibuster, leaving Republicans with significant leverage even in the minority.
The bills could still become part of the political contest if they fail. Democrats may seek to make Trump’s vetoes of popular proposals an issue in the 2028 election.
House oversight panel plans inquiries into Trump’s business dealings
Control of House committees will give Democrats the ability to issue subpoenas under current rules. Representative Robert Garcia of California is expected to chair the House Oversight Committee. He has said the panel will investigate Trump family business dealings, allegations of corporate corruption and alleged abuses by federal immigration agencies. It also plans to revisit the Trump administration’s handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender.
As election results came in, Garcia summed up his plans with the phrase “get your lawyers ready.” Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland had previously sought government records and alleged that Trump used tariff exemptions to grant special treatment to certain industries. Raskin said business leaders in those sectors had given Trump gifts. These are allegations made by Democrats; any inquiries will turn on the evidence and records available.
Senate Democrats have also signaled plans to step up oversight. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts wrote on social media that new forests would need to be planted to supply the paper for the subpoenas to come. Investigations are expected to occupy a substantial share of the new Congress’s time and could further narrow the scope for cooperation between the White House and Democrats.
How much Republican support Trump retains remains unclear
Trump faced two House impeachments during his first term, so investigations led by Democrats are not new. But after the midterms, his base of support in Congress will be smaller, while his approval rating is near lows in several polls. Marc Short, chair of Advancing American Freedom and former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, said Republicans are unlikely to defect openly, though some lawmakers may gradually distance themselves from Trump.
Short also said the Republican Party has moved away from its conservative roots and needs to recalibrate. It remains unclear whether the results will prompt a broader reassessment within the party. The incoming Congress will face disputes over budgets and policy, Trump’s veto power and oversight of his administration.