The Senate is set to return this week after a two-week hiatus, with a packed agenda and several pressing issues to address. The upper chamber will need to sprint through the remainder of July and into the first week of August to tackle its priorities, which include nominations, government funding, and President Donald Trump's flagship election bill. The sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham has added to the challenges, as Republicans will be down one key vote in their push to move Trump's agenda forward.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune will face the task of keeping his conference together, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats will likely look for any fractures in the GOP's unity to slow down Trump's agenda. However, Trump has also contributed to the challenges, particularly with his determination to pass his flagship election integrity legislation, the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility Act. His refusal to sign a bipartisan housing package in protest of the stalled legislation has already caused tensions, and his push to attach the voter bill to the National Defense Authorization Act may further exacerbate the situation.
Republicans hope to begin the process on the National Defense Authorization Act in July, but fear that attaching the voter bill would hand Democrats leverage to block the legislation. Senator Mike Rounds warned that adding the voter bill to the military funding authorization package would guarantee no Democratic support, and that it would empower Democrats to stop other bills that they would otherwise have to vote for. The move could also give Schumer and Democrats a reason to slow down Trump's agenda, particularly if they can exploit divisions within the GOP.
Another key priority for the Senate is replacing the acting Director of National Intelligence, whose appointment by Trump in June was widely criticized. Jay Clayton, the nominee to replace him, will appear for his confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday. The hearing comes weeks after Trump yanked Clayton's initial hearing, further throwing into doubt lawmakers' ability to reauthorize a key anti-terrorism tool. The confirmation hearing for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will also take place this week, with some Republicans expressing skepticism about his nomination.
The Senate will also begin the government funding process, with Republicans eager to put to the test their fears that Democrats will again shut down the government for a political edge. Senator Mike Rounds expects a handful of spending bills to make their way to the Senate floor during the July sprint, but Democrats have expressed concerns that the Trump administration may withhold funding on some of their priorities. The renewed strikes in Iran have also added to the tensions, with several lawmakers on both sides of the aisle criticizing Trump's decision to end the ceasefire.
The administration's actions in Iran are likely to stoke Democrats' push to rein in Trump's war authorities in the region, with several lawmakers calling for congressional authorization for any further military action. The issue is expected to come to a head in the coming weeks, with lawmakers potentially voting on war powers resolutions to curb Trump's authority in Iran. The situation has sparked concerns about the impact on the economy, gas prices, and American lives, with Senator Tim Kaine warning that the US should not be launching new strikes without congressional authorization.
