Congress' deadlines are coming due in June
Image: J. Scott Applewhite
Congress returns to Washington from recess this week facing a problem familiar to procrastinators everywhere: eventually, the deadline arrives.
Lawmakers left town before Memorial Day without resolving several politically sensitive issues, and are now returning to a backlog of major legislation on the docket.
Here’s what to expect in Congress this month:
Immigration funding showdown continues
One of the first items on lawmakers' agenda is a measure to provide $72 billion dollars in funding for ICE and US Border Patrol. Progress towards approval stalled last month after disagreements emerged over the inclusion of the Trump admin’s new $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization” fund.
- Supporters say the fund could provide compensation to people who believe they were unfairly targeted by government actions.
- Critics, including Democrats and some GOP lawmakers, question whether taxpayer dollars should be used for the fund, and cite what they say is an alarming lack of transparency and guardrails on how the money is doled out.
Congress weighs Iran war intervention
Congress is also expected to consider a resolution related to US involvement in the Iran war. At the center of the debate is whether Congress should invoke the War Powers Act of 1973, which generally limits presidents to 60 days of military action without congressional authorization.
- But the Trump admin is arguing that the current ceasefire means that timeline no longer applies.
- The vote is largely symbolic, since Trump can veto the measure.
The future of FISA is up for debate
Another looming deadline involves Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This provision allows intelligence agencies to collect communications from foreign nationals located outside the US without obtaining individual warrants.
Congress voted to approve a 45-day extension earlier this year following weeks of debate on whether to overhaul Section 702, with that deadline set to expire June 12.
Looking ahead…Congress doesn't have unlimited time to sort through these debates. There’s only ~24 House session days remaining to address a range of high-profile issues before lawmakers go on their month-long August recess.
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See a 360° view of what pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that Congress has failed to fulfill its constitutional responsibility to oversee military action, allowing President Trump to continue an unpopular and costly conflict with Iran without explicit authorization while sidelining the War Powers Act and ignoring growing public opposition to the war.
- Others contend that Trump is using the federal government to reward political allies with his proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, which bypasses Congress, undermines constitutional checks and balances, and risks turning taxpayer dollars into a partisan tool for compensating Trump supporters and loyalists.
- “Congress’ continued refusal to enforce War Powers Act ignores law, national will” –St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial Board
- “There’s a Way to Stop Trump’s I.R.S. Slush Fund” –Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
- “No breaks for Congress until TSA funded” –Baltimore Sun Editorial Board
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that congressional Republicans have squandered their governing majority by repeatedly failing to advance key pieces of President Trump’s agenda, from immigration enforcement and election security to tax relief and housing affordability, leaving voters frustrated by legislative gridlock and a Congress that appears unwilling or unable to deliver on its promises.
- Others contend that President Trump’s biggest obstacle is no longer Democrats but divisions within his own party, arguing that his confrontational approach to Republican lawmakers has weakened support in Congress, made it harder to pass key legislation, and risks leaving his administration politically isolated despite Republicans holding majorities on Capitol Hill.
- “The do-nothing Congress” –Kelly Sadler, Washington Times
- “Trump may already be a lame duck” –Washington Examiner Editorial Board
- “How to stop Trump’s ‘weaponization’ fund” –WaPo Editorial Board
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