Congress certified President-elect Trump’s election win on Monday afternoon after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) plowed ahead with the vote despite a snowstorm set to hit Washington, D.C.
The House and Senate convened in a joint session at 1 p.m. on Monday to certify Trump’s victory, a process that is mandated by the Constitution and federal law.
Also this week, the debate over the best strategy to carry out Trump’s legislative wish list is expected to heat up, after the president-elect endorsed moving one reconciliation bill rather than two — a stance that directly contrasts with that of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and others. And some of Trump’s cabinet nominees will likely visit the Capitol this week to meet with senators, including Tulsi Gabbard — Trump’s pick to be director of national intelligence — who is slated to speak with Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee.
Additionally, the late-President Jimmy Carter will lie in state in the Capitol, as Washington begins a days-long commemoration of the 39th president’s life.
Trump’s election win certified amid snowstorm
The certification of Trump’s election win took center stage in Washington on Monday, as lawmakers trudged through the snow to participate in the process that took place exactly four years after a violent mob descended on the Capitol and interrupted the procedure.
The House and Senate adopted a concurrent resolution last week that set Jan. 6 as the day Congress would certify the election, in accordance with the Electoral Count Act, which lawmakers passed and Biden enacted in 2022 following the Capitol riot.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in the presidential election, presided over the House chamber.
Monday’s certification is taking place in the shadow of the 2021 riot when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and interrupted the counting of Biden’s electoral victory. In light of the events of four years ago, Democrats have said they do not plan to stage election protests that they have in the past.
Reconciliation debate to heat up in the Senate
The debate over how to execute Trump’s sprawling legislative agenda is poised to heat up in the Senate this week after the president-elect said he prefers moving one large reconciliation package rather than two — a stance that directly contrasts with that of Thune and conservative House Republicans.
Trump officially announced on Sunday night that he prefers a single reconciliation bill, writing on X: “Members of Congress are getting to work on one powerful Bill that will bring our Country back, and make it greater than ever before.” The package will include border and energy policy and extend the 2017 tax cuts, Trump said.
Trump’s statement came one day after Johnson told House Republicans at a retreat that the president-elect preferred the one-track strategy.
That stance, however, is not landing well in some Senate GOP circles, where a two-bill approach is preferred. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the chairman of the Budget Committee, said Sunday on Fox News that he was “very worried” about moving a single bill.
“I’m very worried that, if we don’t put border first and get it done, it’s going to be a nightmare for our national security,” Graham said, later adding: “I will try to be a team player here, but I want to tell the American people, from my point of view, the number one job is to secure the nation for the federal government.”
Attention will be focused on Thune this week to see how he reacts to Trump’s statement, which runs counter to his strategy. The majority leader laid out a reconciliation plan last month that included two bills: The first would tackle border security and defense, and the other would extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which include a number of provisions set to expire at the end of 2025.
Additionally, the House Freedom Caucus is likely to take issue with Trump’s comments. Last month, the conservative group wrote a letter to Johnson endorsing the two-bill strategy.
Johnson, for his part, laid out an ambitious timeline to tackle the reconciliation package during an appearance on Fox News Sunday. He said the House will look to pass a budget resolution in early February, then move the entire package the first week of April.
“Everything’s got to move in the right sequence. And along the way, I think we’re going to keep those trains moving in the right direction and on time,” Johnson said. “And if that happens, we will get it out of the House in early April, maybe as soon as April 3, and then move it over to the Senate. That would put that bill on the president’s desk for signature by the end of April. That would be fantastic.”
Notably, the first week of April is also when Florida is holding two special elections to replace former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and outgoing Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), who is becoming Trump’s national security adviser on Jan. 20 — two likely GOP holds that will give the conference an extra vote in the House.
One person who is likely to celebrate Trump’s preferred strategy is Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, who had been publicly pushing for one reconciliation bill rather than two.
Administration nominees back on Capitol Hill — including Gabbard
Trump’s cabinet and administration nominees are expected to be back on Capitol Hill to meet with senators this week, as the picks gear up for their confirmation hearings and eventual votes.
That group includes Gabbard, Trump’s selection to be director of national intelligence, who is slated to meet one-on-one this week with Warner, the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Gabbard is seen as one of the more controversial nominees Trump has put forward, with questions being raised about her 2017 meeting with Bashar al-Assad, and comments she has made about the Russia-Ukraine war that echoed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s talking points.
Aside from meetings with nominees, the Senate is expected to adopt an organizing resolution this week, as the 119th Congress gets underway. Senators were sworn into office last week, and Thune officially began his tenure as majority leader.
President Carter to lie in state
The late-President Jimmy Carter will lie in state at the Capitol this week, as Washington honors the life and legacy of the 39th president.
An arrival ceremony for Carter’s remains is scheduled for Tuesday at 2:45 p.m., followed by a Congressional tribute for the late-president, which Johnson, Thune and other members of leadership are slated to take part in.
Then, beginning Tuesday, a viewing period will begin in the Capitol Rotunda for members of the public to pay their respects to Carter. The first viewing period is on Tuesday from 7 p.m. through midnight, then another beginning on Wednesday at 7 a.m. through Thursday at 7 a.m.
Thursday morning, congressional leaders will attend a ceremonial departure for Carter’s remains. The late-president’s state funeral is scheduled for Thursday at Washington National Cathedral. Biden is expected to give a eulogy after he said Carter asked him to deliver one.
