Congress preps for spending sprint amid Biden pardon fallout
Lawmakers are back for the annual legislative end-of-year sprint, in what should be a busy three weeks in the waning days of Joe Biden’s presidency.
The most immediate issue: Congress faces a Dec. 20 government funding deadline. While a shutdown isn't atop anyone's holiday wish list, there’s significant disagreement about how long a short-term government funding patch should last into President-elect Donald Trump's new term — and what other priorities, like tens of billions in sought-after disaster aid, might hitch a ride to that bill. With lawmakers now back in Washington post-Thanksgiving, look for some decisions to start being made on the way forward.
Some other pressing questions: The Senate returns Monday while the House comes back Tuesday. Here's some other key topics lawmakers are such to face questions about:
- Biden’s pardon of Hunter: The president’s parting “full and unconditional” pardon of his son Hunter will continue to draw scrutiny over its scope and breadth — particularly after Joe Biden denied repeatedly for months that he would make it.
- Kash Patel for FBI director: Republican senators are sure to get a barrage of inquiries about whether the staunch Trump loyalist — who’s floated conspiracy theories about the 2020 election won by Biden and has called for the removal of Trump enemies from the government — can be confirmed to lead the FBI. Just three GOP senators could defect with JD Vance breaking ties, assuming unified Democratic opposition.
Beyond those front-of-mind topics, there's a few other notable events to keep an eye on this week:
- Elon and Vivek to Washington: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are heading to Capitol Hill on Thursday to meet with Republicans about reform ideas for their new so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
- Remember that Ethics report? It has slipped from the headlines since former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) withdrew from consideration as Trump’s attorney general, but the House Ethics Committee is due to meet again on Dec. 5 to mull whether to release its completed report on the former member.
- Final meeting on Trump assassination: The task force set up in the aftermath of the assassination attempts against Trump meets for the final time on Thursday.