Congress poised to become thorn in Trump’s side after Democratic midterm wins

Congress poised to become thorn in Trump's side after Democratic midterm wins Democrats are regarding to be newly empowered in Washington.

Key points

• Congressional Republicans like Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, vowed not to let Democrats "unwind everything we've done."
• USA TODAY White House correspondent Francesca Chambers explains what major wins for Democrats in the midterms could mean for the MAGA movement in 2028.
• WASHINGTON – For two years, Congress has largely done the bidding of President Donald Trump – but that will shortly end.
• Democrats are projected to wrest control of the Senate and House of Representatives back from Republicans.
• Even with Republicans fully in charge, Congress has become increasingly willing to rebuke Trump over the past year.

Democrats are projected to wrest control of the Senate and House of Representatives back from Republicans. It means the legislative branch is regarding to become a much bigger thorn in the president's side.

Investigations, impeachments of Cabinet members and fiery hearings are all probable on the way.

Rep. Robert Garcia, a California Democrat poised to become the next chairman of the House Oversight Committee, put his party's message for Trump and his allies succinctly upon learning the GOP had lost its already-slim majority in the chamber. "LAWYER UP, " Garcia wrote on social media.

Both chambers have voted to end the Iran war and release the Epstein files. The House has repudiated Trump's tariffs on Canada while outgoing GOP senators pushed back on Trump's intends to build a White House ballroom and launch an "anti-weaponization" fund.

But Republican leadership had largely worked to advance Trump's agenda. With Democrats poised to take over, that's regarding to change. Expect investigations, impeachments and shutdown showdowns.

Armed with control of both chambers, Democrats will have powerful new tools at their disposal to conduct oversight of the Trump administration.

They'll be able to subpoena administration agencies, drag administration office-holders to Capitol Hill for dramatic hearings and conduct investigations into the president and his allies. Unlike when Democrats were in the minority, the probes will carry the full force of the legislative branch's authority.

"You will have a Congress that recognizes we don't work for the president, " remarked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, who's now poised to become the next speaker.

And while congressional Democrats have largely left the possibility of impeaching of Trump himself off the table, there are articles pending in the House to remove a number of Cabinet secretaries, including Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.

Though they'll ultimately have to clear trials in the Senate before any high-level Trump administration office-holders could actually be removed, those measures will probable see new momentum in that chamber.

Furthermore, Trump may have a tougher time negotiating deals to keep the administration funded. Despite Democrats sweeping victories, they will still need to win over GOP votes in the Senate – and Trump's signature – to pass spending bills. How will democrats midterm wins impact Donald Trump and MAGA movement.

USA TODAY White House correspondent Francesca Chambers explains what major wins for Democrats in the midterms could mean for the MAGA movement in 2028. Health care, affordability are Dem priorities.

In his victory speech celebrating his party's gains, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, remarked he had five words for Americans who backed Democrats: "Relief is on the way."

They've outlined lowering health care costs and addressing widespread affordability reservations as among their biggest goals.

While the Trump administration has resisted previous Democrat-led efforts to enact policies such as extending Obamacare subsidies, the president has expressed a willingness to try to ease health care expenses for Americans.

Though he stressed he reserves the right to veto any bills, without mentioning specific problems, he indicated Tuesday night he'd be open to passing legislation championed by the opposite party.

"I don't want to be just sitting there for two years vetoing everything, " he informed Politico.

Meanwhile, congressional Republicans like Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, vowed not to let Democrats "unwind everything we've done."

Zachary Schermele is the congressional correspondent for USA TODAY. Reach him by email at [email protected] and on Signal @zachschermele.02. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around congress poised to become thorn in Trumps side after Democratic midterm wins point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.