Speaker of the House Mike Johnson addresses the press in the U.S. Capitol on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC.Heather Diehl/Getty Images
Congress is slated to reconvene from its two-week break at the start of this week — immediately immersing legislators into the ongoing discussion surrounding the Iran war as President Donald Trump’s approach continues to be questioned.
Democrats in both the House and Senate intend to introduce individual votes in their respective chambers concerning Iran war powers resolutions this week. These resolutions would petition the president to cease the deployment of U.S. armed forces in actions against Iran, its government, or military, unless a formal declaration of war or authorization for military force is officially enacted.
Prior instances of these efforts have barely missed the mark, but as the confrontation prolongs and lawmakers face persistent inquiries about the president’s strategies, there’s potential for more Republicans to endorse these initiatives.
Possible expulsion votes for four representatives
The House might proceed as soon as this week with actions to oust several congressional members.
Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna from Florida has stated her intent to call for a vote to remove Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., next week, amidst allegations of sexual misconduct. Texas GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales might also encounter a similar vote following his admission of an affair with a former staff member. Additionally, Florida Democrat Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is anticipated to face an expulsion vote, likely after a House Ethics Committee hearing regarding sanctions on April 21. The congresswoman has been charged with the theft of $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding, allegedly used to finance her 2021 congressional bid.
The removal of a Congress member — a comparatively uncommon event — necessitates a two-thirds majority vote, a greater requirement than the straightforward majority needed for most legislative approvals. Only six legislators in U.S. history have been removed, including George Santos in 2023.
As the calls for expulsion intensify, Democrats are also advocating for the removal of Florida Republican Rep. Cory Mills, who has confronted his own accusations of wrongdoing.
Speaker Mike Johnson has previously expressed opposition to expulsion endeavors, contending that lawmakers are entitled to due process.
Awaiting Johnson’s subsequent action on DHS financing
Legislators return as the Department of Homeland Security’s partial government cessation continues — marking its 66th day on Monday when the Senate is back in session.
This partial shutdown represents the most prolonged period in U.S. history.
The U.S. Capitol Building dome is observed in the early hours, April 2, 2026 in Washington, DC.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Johnson has yet to respond to the Senate’s DHS funding legislation, which excluded financial provisions for Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as Customs and Border Protection.
It remains undetermined what Johnson will do next in an attempt to reestablish the agency, as he navigates threats to his position against a challenging route to fully fund the DHS’s extensive network of organizations through reconciliation.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks with the media in the U.S. Capitol on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC.Heather Diehl/Getty Images
The Senate intends to push ahead with a focused budget reconciliation act to secure funding for ICE and CPB over the subsequent three years, spearheaded by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
Trump mentioned on Friday that he engaged with Sens. Graham and John Barrasso to deliberate on this issue.
“Reconciliation is ADVANCING, and we are proceeding SWIFTLY and with PRECISION to maintain the SECURITY of our Border, and providing funding to the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department to sustain our remarkable SUCCESS in MAKING AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!” Trump conveyed via his social media platform on Friday.
Even though reconciliation is a drawn-out process that circumvents the filibuster, Trump has mandated that the bill reach his desk by June 1 — an immense task for Republicans handling slender margins within both the House and Senate.
As the coming legislative push nears, House Republicans receive a slight reprieve with the introduction of Rep.-elect Clay Fuller, who prevailed in a special election representing Georgia’s 14th Congressional District earlier this month to fill the position formerly held by Marjorie Taylor Greene. Fuller is scheduled to be sworn in during the House’s initial series of votes on Tuesday, April 14.
This addition signifies that Johnson can afford to forfeit two GOP votes assuming all members are present and voting.
Republican Clay Fuller gives a speech during an election night gathering upon winning the special election for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, April 7, 2026, in Ringgold, Ga.Mike Stewart/AP
Cabinet officials defend their budgets
Trump’s FY2027 budgetary requests are also taking center stage as numerous Cabinet secretaries and administrative officers are scheduled to appear before legislators, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought, United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Secret Service Director Sean Curran, among others.
Bipartisan objections over Bondi
Although first lady Melania Trump reignited attention on the controversy surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the GOP-led House Oversight Committee is not scheduled to convene any depositions this week as part of their ongoing investigation into Epstein. The Department of Justice reported that former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not participate in a closed-door deposition with the committee on Tuesday, April 14 — prompting bipartisan opposition from legislators involved in the committee. The subsequent scheduled deposition is slated for April 30.
Conservatives pose challenge for Johnson regarding FISA
House Republican leaders are also working towards presenting a straightforward extension of FISA Section 702, commonly known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, for a vote sometime this week. This federal statute lays out the principles and protocols for obtaining foreign intelligence through means like electronic surveillance, physical searches, and pen registers.
Johnson and Trump have publicly endorsed a clean extension lasting until October 2027. Nevertheless, several House conservatives do not favor a clean extension — presenting Johnson with a dilemma in passing the bill that may depend on support from Democrats, who are largely hesitant to assist Republicans and Trump in accomplishing any legislative goals.
Once the House approves the FISA legislation, the Senate must consider the measure by April 20 — the date when the current law is set to lapse.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com