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 probably the most essential 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.

This is a have 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, high 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 stated final month that he’ll possible meet with Schumer and Jeffries forward of the Sept. 30 funding deadline.

“Nicely, I’ll, I assume. However it’s nearly a waste of time to satisfy as a result of they by no means approve something,” Trump stated 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 alternate for his or her votes to fund the federal government. Presuming all 53 Senate Republicans vote aye, no 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 accepted international help funding.

The White Home is unlikely to just 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 almost inconceivable for Republicans — who’ve razor-thin majorities in each chambers — to go 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 out a bipartisan breakthrough to avert a shutdown, a stopgap persevering with decision is the anticipated alternative for Republicans. Nonetheless, given the state of negotiations, the chance of a shutdown one month from the deadline is definitely credible.

The Epstein recordsdata

Congress returns Tuesday with the identical downside it had when lawmakers jetted home a day early to embark on their recess. The Epstein saga is poised to interact 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 power a ground vote on a measure compelling the discharge of the Epstein recordsdata, which works 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 satisfy with the victims on Tuesday, a day earlier than the information convention is certain to create a spectacle on Capitol Hill.

It stays an open query as as to whether the Home will be capable to transfer ahead on any primary laws. Earlier than recess, the decrease chamber was paralyzed over a standoff concerning the Epstein recordsdata, when the Home Guidelines Committee didn’t tee up any payments for ground votes because the members disagreed over the Epstein recordsdata problem. As Democrats stay dissatisfied with Justice Division’s information compliance with a Home Oversight Committee subpoena, the Guidelines panel is prone to resume its strain marketing campaign that might 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 lower 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 studies (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 at present serving a 20-year jail sentence for aiding and taking part in Epstein’s trafficking of underage women, which concerned a scheme to recruit younger ladies and women 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 catch the attention of 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 stated he’d work to go a so-called D.C. crime fund. It is not but clear how Republicans will look to deal with approval for this funding, however it would little question be a contentious battle in Congress that might emerge as bigger questions of presidency funding are thought-about.

Congress may even need to weigh in on Trump’s efforts to federalize Washington’s Metropolitan Police Division. Underneath the legislation, 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 accepted an extension of this authority, and attributable to its unprecedented nature, aides on Capitol Hill say they’re nonetheless making an attempt to work out precisely how a vote to increase authority would work.

The vote just isn’t privileged, and due to this fact, it is possible 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 at the same time as 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 adjustments 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 stated they intend to make modifications to the Senate guidelines aimed toward expediting passage of lower-level nominees. It will possible 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 positive to reengage on international 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 continuous 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, advised 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 photographs and mentally engaged. Home Republicans stated she revealed that Biden’s internal circle got here to a consensus he mustn’t take a cognitive check, 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.