Big policies, small margins and a Trump wildcard: What to expect from the new Congress
Published 3 January 2025
Lawmakers are kicking off a new, two-year session of Congress on Friday, and Republicans will be in charge in the House and Senate.
Whether they can take advantage of the trifecta to pass GOP priorities − including President-elect Donald Trump's campaign promises − will depend on their ability to overcome internal divisions that have paralyzed them in the past.
Republicans say they’re ready to work together to tackle a full load of legislative priorities, from paring down government spending to passing Trump’s agenda on tax cuts, oil and gas production, mass deportations and more.
But delivering on their goals may not be easy. Republicans have a tiny majority in the House, and every lawmaker has their own priorities. That means just a few members can derail even must-pass legislation.
And Trump has already demonstrated to lawmakers how quickly he can force them to change their plans: Controversial Cabinet nominees have had Senate Republicans scrambling to appease Trump while weighing fitness for office. House Republicans had a deal to avoid a government shutdown blown up overnight by Trump demanding big changes.
Plus, events can scramble or accelerate any would-be priorities. For example, GOP senators are also highlighting a New Year's Day attack in New Orleans that killed at least 14 people and a fatal Tesla Cybertruck explosion at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas as an imperative to get the president-elect's national security nominees confirmed as soon as possible.
Leadership on thin ice
The first order of business when lawmakers arrive on Capitol Hill Friday will be to formally elect their new leaders. House Speaker Mike Johnson hopes to lead the House again for the next two years, and he has Trump’s "complete and total" endorsement