The current Congress has a short window to complete its work, as current government funding runs out Sept. 30. The House and Senate will work on a stopgap measure to avoid a shutdown.
Republicans are pushing Trump nominees through the chamber, despite Democratic delaying tactics that threaten to cancel August recess. The Senate is scheduled to return for business on September 2, with just 14 legislative days left before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
Congressional leaders and their staffs are working to find ways to reduce the number of travel days in order to allow members to spend more time on district and oversight work. They are considering both calendar changes and procedural tweaks to maximize the time they can devote to legislating and conducting oversight.
Amid soaring prices, lagging incomes and debt burdens, Americans are increasingly frustrated with the nation’s political process. Some voters are turning to a right-wing populist party that is gaining ground in state races, fueled by anger over immigration, foreign policy and federal spending.
The NRCC discouraged members from holding in-person town halls earlier this year, but some are now being encouraged to aggressively sell the GOP megabill to constituents during the August recess. One such event featured a rowdy crowd, as Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin endured jeers and boos from attendees who pressed him on topics ranging from the DOGE cuts to Trump’s trade policies. He is scheduled to hold another town hall Monday.