Congress returns from recess as government shutdown deadline looms, Epstein files dominate the House

As lawmakers lastly return to the Capitol after a six-week break, maybe essentially the most important legislative merchandise looming is the deadline to fund the federal government — and Republicans are set to face questions on what’s subsequent for Congress on the Jeffrey Epstein recordsdata.

Here is a take a look at the important thing obstacles and priorities when each chambers return to Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

Authorities funding

Congress should act to fund the federal government earlier than Oct. 1, or the federal government will shut down.

Given the political actuality that funding the federal government would require a heavy dose of bipartisan cooperation, prime Democratic leaders — Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries — have demanded bipartisan talks with President Donald Trump and GOP management to plot a path ahead on funding.

Up to now, that request has not been granted, although Trump mentioned final month that he’ll seemingly meet with Schumer and Jeffries forward of the Sept. 30 funding deadline.

“Nicely, I’ll, I suppose. However it’s virtually a waste of time to fulfill as a result of they by no means approve something,” Trump mentioned on Aug. 13.

Democrats are anticipated to place up a battle — making clear they need to restore cuts to Medicaid and rural hospital funding in change for his or her votes to fund the federal government. Presuming all 53 Senate Republicans vote aye, not less than seven Democrats must be a part of a bipartisan majority. That potential cooperation is in limbo given Trump’s request last week for another rescissions package, which goals at clawing again $4.9 billion of beforehand permitted overseas support funding.

The White Home is unlikely to simply accept Democrats’ calls for, however Republican leaders haven’t but unveiled their plan to keep away from a shutdown both.

Regardless of guarantees to fund the federal government by way of common order, it’s practically not possible for Republicans — who’ve razor-thin majorities in each chambers — to move 12 appropriations payments by way of committee and the ground. Up to now, the Home and Senate have every solely handed two appropriations payments by way of their respective chambers – although the decrease chamber has pushed 9 payments out of committee and the Senate has managed to clear eight of its payments from committee. That leaves an inconceivable feat for appropriators — when it comes to ground time and political capital — to push all that paper throughout the Capitol this month.

With no bipartisan breakthrough to avert a shutdown, a stopgap persevering with decision is the anticipated selection for Republicans. Nonetheless, given the state of negotiations, the probability of a shutdown one month from the deadline is actually credible.

The Epstein recordsdata

Congress returns Tuesday with the identical drawback it had when lawmakers jetted home a day early to embark on their recess. The Epstein saga is poised to have interaction Congress on a number of fronts and that begins on Sept. 3, when Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna plan to carry a information convention with survivors of Epstein’s sexual abuse.

The 2 lawmakers hope to obtain the required signatures on their discharge petition to pressure a ground vote on a measure compelling the discharge of the Epstein recordsdata, which fits towards Speaker Mike Johnson’s choice for the Division of Justice to take the lead on transparency with the Epstein matter. Home Oversight Committee members plan to fulfill with the victims on Tuesday, a day earlier than the information convention is bound to create a spectacle on Capitol Hill.

It stays an open query as as to if the Home will have the ability to transfer ahead on any fundamental laws. Earlier than recess, the decrease chamber was paralyzed over a standoff relating to the Epstein recordsdata, when the Home Guidelines Committee did not tee up any payments for ground votes because the members disagreed over the Epstein recordsdata difficulty. As Democrats stay dissatisfied with Justice Division’s data compliance with a Home Oversight Committee subpoena, the Guidelines panel is prone to resume its strain marketing campaign that would invariably renew the stalemate.

In the meantime, the GOP-led Oversight Committee has subpoenaed the Epstein estate, hoping to safe paperwork by Sept. 8.

Former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta will seem earlier than the committee voluntarily behind closed doorways on Sept.19. In 2008, Acosta served as U.S. legal professional for the Southern District of Florida when the workplace reduce a take care of Epstein to keep away from federal prosecution for intercourse trafficking allegations.

On Sunday, Oversight Chairman James Comer despatched a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, requesting related suspicious exercise reviews (SARs) to help its oversight inspecting the enforcement of intercourse trafficking legal guidelines, particularly in reference to Epstein and his affiliate Ghislaine Maxwell.

The committee additionally subpoenaed several other high-profile individuals, corresponding to former president Invoice Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy and youngster intercourse trafficking. He died in custody a month later, whereas awaiting trial. His dying was dominated a suicide by hanging.

Maxwell was convicted in 2021 by a federal jury on intercourse trafficking and different fees. She is presently serving a 20-year jail sentence for aiding and collaborating in Epstein’s trafficking of underage ladies, which concerned a scheme to recruit younger girls and ladies for massages of Epstein that turned sexual.

Federalization of Washington, D.C., and different cities

Trump’s deployment of the Nationwide Guard in D.C. in addition to plans for other cities will be a magnet for members of Congress as they return to city.

The Home Oversight Committee plans to advance a slew of D.C. crime payments to again up Trump’s crackdown on crime in the city, whereas Democrats push laws to finish Trump’s federalization of the nation’s capital, require federal brokers to put on physique cameras and different measures to say D.C. house rule and advance transparency.

Trump introduced plans to ask Congress for extra funding to fight crime in Washington, and Sen. Lindsey Graham mentioned he’d work to move a so-called D.C. crime fund. It is not but clear how Republicans will look to sort out approval for this funding, however it would little doubt be a contentious battle in Congress that would emerge as bigger questions of presidency funding are thought-about.

Congress may even should weigh in on Trump’s efforts to federalize Washington’s Metropolitan Police Division. Beneath the regulation, Trump can make the most of Washington’s police division for as much as 30 days, as long as he offers acceptable discover. After that, he wants congressional approval to increase the authority. That point will quickly expire.

Congress has by no means permitted an extension of this authority, and as a result of its unprecedented nature, aides on Capitol Hill say they’re nonetheless trying to work out precisely how a vote to increase authority would work.

The vote will not be privileged, and due to this fact, it is seemingly it could want 60 votes within the Senate. Democratic aides stress this threshold, however Republican aides say the matter might be up for consideration.

Trump nominees

The Senate departed Washington whilst Trump aggressively pushed Republicans to remain on the town to course of confirmations of greater than 100 of his nominees.

Republicans departed Washington promising to make modifications to the Senate guidelines governing how nominees are confirmed regardless of objections from Democrats. When the Senate returns, count on that debate to select proper again up the place it left off.

Senate Republicans have mentioned they intend to make modifications to the Senate guidelines geared toward expediting passage of lower-level nominees. It will seemingly play out as a behind-the-scenes debate adopted by some procedural hijinks on the Senate ground.

Ukraine/Russia

Congress can also be again on the town for the primary time since Trump’s summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

With a muted response from Republicans following the historic assembly, and continued bloodshed in Ukraine, lawmakers are certain to reengage on overseas affairs. There might be motion on the Russia sanctions invoice within the Senate although nothing formal has been introduced.

Oversight Committee’s Biden cognitive decline investigation

Chairman James Comer is constant his investigation into former President Joe Biden’s “cognitive decline” and use of an autopen in workplace. Extra former Biden officers are anticipated to seem for closed interviews within the coming weeks, together with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates and chief of employees Jeff Zients.

A number of different Biden aides testified behind closed doorways over recess, offering extra fodder for Republicans.

Anita Dunn, who testified on Aug. 7, informed investigators that whereas she noticed a “bodily” decline in Biden throughout his 4 years in workplace, she maintained the idea that he was calling the pictures and mentally engaged. Home Republicans mentioned she revealed that Biden’s interior circle got here to a consensus he mustn’t take a cognitive take a look at, concluding it could provide no political profit.

Biden himself rejected reports of cognitive decline throughout an look on ABC’s “The View” in early Might.