Trump and the Republican-led House and Senate will try to implement sweeping reform of Washington

Republican lawmakers will return to the Capitol on Tuesday with a spring in their step.

After winning the presidency and a majority in the Senate, the party is on the verge of regaining the majority in the House of Representatives, and with it the powerful “trifecta” governing in Washington.

While control of the House may not be regained for several days, GOP lawmakers will work this week under the assumption that they have achieved it, continuing with House leadership elections and developing plans to reverse or change much of the Biden administration’s domestic and foreign policies.

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Republican lawmakers have said their first priority in the 119th Congress will be to pass policies to secure the southern border. The leading candidate for Republican leadership in the Senate promised on Monday to “throw the hatchet into the regulatory apparatus,” which will be the second priority of the conference. They also plan to quickly reauthorize President-elect Donald Trump’s 2017 tax bill and other budget measures.

The question is how Trump will seek to shape the agenda. Trump quickly made clear he wanted the Republican-led Senate to bend to his will on his nomination, asserting that he planned to scan the chamber for some nominees. Meanwhile, his allies have been vocal supporters of Sen. Rick Scott (Florida) for GOP leader, although Trump himself has not supported the secret ballot race.

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Democratic lawmakers, who maintain they still have a narrow path to a House majority, will focus this week on confirming as many Senate judges as possible in a period of shrinking majorities.

About twenty judicial nominations are already awaiting a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee and on the Senate floor, but some of them lack bipartisan support, which makes their path challenging.

“We intend to do as much as we can,” Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (R-N.Y.) said in a statement Monday.

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Republican leadership elections

Republican lawmakers’ first task this week will be to choose House and Senate leaders.

Republicans overwhelmingly expect Speaker Mike Johnson (Louisiana), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (Louisiana) and Majority Whip Tom Emmer (Minnesota), all Trump allies, to be re-elected to their leadership positions on Wednesday – whether the House was convened. Some hardliners may insist on delaying the election until a majority convenes or finalizes the rules that will dictate the House for the next term before deciding who will lead.

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The modern Senate majority – which will likely include 53 seats pending the outcome in Pennsylvania – will elect modern leadership on Wednesday after 18 years under Sen. Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), who has often sparred with Trump.

Three candidates are seeking election in a secret ballot, and all tout their relationship with and respect for the president-elect.

Scott has described himself as a true ally of Trump’s in the race, and MAGA has gained tremendous momentum in recent days, boasting endorsements from billionaire Elon Musk, former Fox News journalist Tucker Carlson, and Trump supporter Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and at least five senators.

“I’m optimistic that I’ll win because I represent the Trump agenda and what my colleagues want,” Scott said Monday on Fox News.

But Trump himself has yet to endorse a candidate, and the grassroots fervor could benefit two other establishment candidates, given that some senators may feel alienated by the online pressure campaign.

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Sen. John Thune (South Dakota), the current No. 2 Republican in the Senate, and Sen. John Cornyn (Texas) have been lobbying their fellow senators for months, and both have promised to change the way McConnell has run things.

Thune and his allies have publicly urged Trump not to rely on the scale of the race, but so far the president-elect is holding off.

Trump, however, insisted that senators allow him to bypass their consent and nominate his nominees without a vote in the Senate.

“Any Republican senator seeking the coveted DRIVER position in the United States Senate must agree to nominations during (Senate!) recesses, without which we will be unable to get nominees confirmed in a timely manner,” he wrote on Truth Social on Sunday.

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All three leadership candidates quickly said they would consider the recess appointment option, which requires the Senate to adjourn for at least 10 days while the president unilaterally nominates candidates.

Such a move could allow Trump to push through controversial candidates who do not enjoy the support of all Republicans.

Plans for the coming months

Both the House and Senate will also begin solemn negotiations to address several bills that must be passed by the end of the year.

Now that Republicans are poised to maintain both majorities next year, lawmakers can extend through March the fiscal levels that expire on Dec. 20. Theoretically, this would give the Senate some time to confirm a number of Trump cabinet officials in the first 100 days.

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As a compact bloc of House Republicans continues to oppose short-term spending bills, Johnson may once again have to rely on House Democrats to fund the government. His willingness to work with Democrats has angered some far-right Republicans, although Trump stood by the speaker throughout.

By the end of the year, lawmakers will also have to reauthorize agriculture and national defense laws and allocate more funds to aid people recovering from recent hurricanes and wildfires.

It is possible that disaster aid could be passed next month along with a bill extending government funding, according to two people familiar with early negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private talks.