Authorities shutdown looms as Congress returns after monthlong August recess

By Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking and Stephen Groves | Related Press

Congressional Republicans scored an enormous victory this summer time once they handed President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” of tax and spending cuts with no single Democratic vote. However as they return to Washington this fall after a monthlong August recess, they should discover a solution to work with Democrats — or round them — as a authorities shutdown looms.

The annual spending battle will dominate the September agenda, together with a potential effort by Senate Republicans to alter their chamber’s guidelines to thwart Democratic stalling ways on nominations. The Senate can 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 because the U.S. pressures Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine.

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

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

Holding the Authorities Open

Probably the most pressing process for Congress is to keep away from a authorities shutdown on Sept. 30, when federal funding runs out. And it’s up to now unclear if Republicans and Democrats will be capable to agree on how to do this.

Congress should cross 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 bundle. However Republicans will want Democratic votes to cross an extension, and Democrats will need vital concessions. Senate Democratic Chief Chuck Schumer’s vote with Republicans to keep away from a shutdown in March prompted livid backlash inside his social gathering.

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 Republicans handed laws this summer time that rescinded about $9 billion in overseas assist and public broadcasting funds and Trump notified Congress once more on Friday that he’ll block $4.9 billion in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

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 Battle

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

Exasperated Republicans fled Washington for the month after making little headway with Senate Democrats over their nominations blockade, which has pressured delays in confirmations and angered Trump as a lot of his administration’s positions stay unfilled. Republican leaders referred to 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 following a number of weeks discussing how which may work.

Russian Sanctions

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one among Trump’s closest congressional allies, has pushed the president for months to assist his sweeping bipartisan sanctions invoice that will impose steep tariffs on nations which might be fueling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by shopping for its oil, fuel, 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 mentioned they gained’t transfer with out him.

Graham has stepped up his calls after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymir 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 mentioned of his invoice in an interview with The Related Press final month.

Oversight of the CDC

Well being and Human Service 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 Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. A number of different prime officers additionally resigned in protest.

Kennedy has tried to advance anti-vaccine insurance policies which might be contradicted by a long time of scientific analysis. Monarez’s legal professionals mentioned she refused “to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts.”

Louisiana Sen. Invoice Cassidy, the Republican chairman of the HELP panel that oversees the CDC and a member of the Finance Committee, has referred to as on the CDC to delay a gathering of outdoor consultants who make suggestions on using vaccines till Congress can look into the difficulty.

Divisions over Epstein

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

Democrats are keen to maintain urgent on the Epstein recordsdata, 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 Home 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 practically a dozen former prime Biden aides and members of the president’s interior circle.

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

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

Inventory Buying and selling Ban

Congress has mentioned proposals for years to maintain lawmakers from partaking in buying and selling particular person shares, nodding to the concept that there’s a possible battle of curiosity when they’re typically aware of info and selections that may dramatically transfer markets.

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

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

Related Press writers Matt Brown and Joey Cappelletti contributed to this report.

Initially Revealed: August 31, 2025 at 2:41 PM PDT