As Congress reconvenes following a two-week break, lawmakers are diving back into discussions regarding the conflict in Iran, with President Donald Trump’s approach under ongoing examination.
Democrats in both the House and Senate plan to initiate separate votes this week on resolutions concerning U.S. military engagement in Iran. These resolutions will urge the President to cease any military actions against Iran or its government and military forces unless Congress formally declares war or grants authorization for military force.
Previous attempts to advance such resolutions have faced narrow defeats. However, as the situation in Iran persists and lawmakers field questions regarding the President’s decisions, some Republicans may consider lending their support to these initiatives.
Additionally, the House may take steps this week to remove several members of Congress. Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna from Florida intends to call for a vote to expel Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Texas Republican Representative Tony Gonzales may also be subjected to a similar vote after acknowledging an affair with a former staff member. Furthermore, Florida Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is likely to face expulsion proceedings following an Ethics Committee hearing related to her indictment for allegedly misappropriating $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds, which she purportedly laundered to finance her 2021 congressional campaign.
Expelling a member is a rare and significant action, requiring a two-thirds majority vote—more than the simple majority needed for most legislative measures. Historically, only six members of Congress have been expelled, including George Santos earlier this year.
As the calls for expulsion grow, Democrats are also advocating for the removal of Florida Republican Representative Cory Mills, who is facing his own allegations of misconduct.
Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed opposition to the expulsion initiatives, emphasizing the need for due process for lawmakers.
As Congress returns, the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security continues, reaching Day 66 on Monday. This shutdown marks the longest in U.S. history.
Johnson has yet to respond to the Senate’s funding proposal for DHS, which excludes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. His next steps to resolve the impasse remain uncertain as he navigates leadership challenges while trying to secure comprehensive funding for various DHS operations through reconciliation.
The Senate plans to advance a targeted budget reconciliation bill aimed at funding ICE and CPB for the next three years, under the leadership of Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, as noted by Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
On Friday, Trump announced that he met with Senators Graham and John Barrasso to discuss the funding issue, asserting that progress is being made to ensure border security and provide necessary funding to the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department. He emphasized the urgency of having the bill on his desk by June 1, a considerable task for Republicans managing slim majorities in both chambers.
With the upcoming legislative session on the horizon, House Republicans received a slight boost with the recent election of Rep.-elect Clay Fuller, who won a special election in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. Fuller is expected to be sworn in during the House’s voting session on April 14, allowing Johnson to afford a loss of two GOP votes in a full attendance scenario.
Trump’s proposed budget for FY2027 will also be a focal point, as several Cabinet officials and administration representatives, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, are scheduled to testify before Congress.
While the investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to attract attention, the GOP-led House Oversight Committee will not conduct any depositions this week. The Department of Justice has announced that former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not appear for a closed-door deposition on April 14, which has drawn bipartisan criticism from committee members. The next deposition is anticipated to take place on April 30.
Furthermore, House Republican leaders are planning to propose a clean extension of FISA Section 702, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, for a vote this week. This law outlines the guidelines for collecting foreign intelligence via electronic surveillance and other means.
Both Johnson and Trump have publicly supported a straightforward extension until October 2027. However, resistance from several conservative House members complicates efforts to pass the bill, requiring Johnson to seek Democratic support, which is typically reluctant to assist Republican initiatives.
Once the House approves the FISA legislation, the Senate will need to consider it by April 20, the date on which the current law is set to expire.
