Congress faces an especially lame lame-duck session
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Republicans are returning to work this week, facing the prospect of an especially lame lame-duck session after a bruising midterm election that set off a countdown clock on their control of Congress.
Why it matters: Democrats have little incentive to help Republicans advance their agenda before January, while departing GOP lawmakers could complicate matters further by skipping votes or defying party leaders.
- As a result, most of the items on their to-do list could get kicked to the new Congress.
- That's aside from a few items House GOP leaders would rather avoid altogether: another Jeffrey Epstein bill and an impeachment vote.
- Lawmakers also have just over a month before another potential government funding lapse.
Driving the news: Rep. Thomas Massie — who GOP voters kicked to the curb in favor of a more Trump-aligned Republican — is pushing another Epstein-related vote, an additional headache for the administration and GOP leaders.
- He also plans to try to force a vote this week on his impeachment resolution against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- Republicans lose their House and Senate majorities Jan. 3, ending their ability to set both chambers' legislative agendas.
Reality check: Trump still wields the presidential veto power.
- Rodell Mollineau, a Democratic strategist and former communications director for the late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said Democrats may postpone some legislative fights until January, when they'll have more negotiating leverage.
- "I think there's some things that Democrats would be happy to kick down the road," he said.
Yes, but: Congress still faces major legislative hurdles.
- Lawmakers need to pass the annual National Defense Authorization Act, potentially setting up a fight over the Iran war as some Republicans grow more willing to criticize the conflict.
- A bipartisan permitting bill could overhaul how energy and infrastructure projects are approved.
- Senate Republicans are also racing to confirm more Trump administration officials and judicial nominees before Democrats take over.
What they're saying: "What has to get done is appropriations and the NDAA bill," Nadeam Elshami, former chief of staff to Nancy Pelosi, told Axios.
- Democrats "feel emboldened in both of those discussions" and "have both the momentum and the leverage," he said, making them unlikely to support provisions advancing Trump's priorities.
- Permitting reform would be nice, Elshami said, but it faces "real hurdles."
- And as for Republicans' hopes of passing another reconciliation package? "I just don't see that getting done," he said.
Between the lines: Dozens of House lawmakers and at least 17 senators are leaving Congress, raising questions about attendance, cooperation and how much work departing members actually want to do — consider it a professional case of congressional senioritis.
- Some, like Massie, have decided to shake the table and make their party feel their wrath.
- "If it's a critical vote, then I believe members would return," Elshami said. But on less consequential votes: "I highly doubt that they'll be in town."
Mollineau sees competing incentives.
- "[O]bviously as a Democrat, I want as few of these people to come back as possible. Like if they're grumpy, stay away," he told Axios. But, he added, "You're still getting paid. This is still your job."
- Outgoing lawmakers eyeing lobbying jobs or future campaigns also have reason to show up: "members have very long, very long memories," he said.
- Even so, he warned: "I don't think they're going to be able to get the enthusiasm out of all these retiring members."
What we're watching: Whether Congress manages to finish its major legislative priorities, or whether lawmakers leave those fights to the new Democratic majorities.
Go deeper: House poised to impeach Pete Hegseth after GOP midterm defeat
