Congress returns after midterm wipeout with Hegseth impeachment, funding deadline and leadership fights ahead
About six weeks of lame-duck business lie ahead, with a funding deadline in mid-December, a Hegseth impeachment resolution and leadership elections in both parties.
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Congress returned on Monday 9 November 2026 for “just six short weeks of a lame-duck sprint” before the change of power on 3 January 2027, the Associated Press reported. Democrats won the midterms, so Republican majorities end when the new Congress convenes.
What the lame-duck session faces
The first deadline is money. Congress must “fund the government by mid-December” or risk a shutdown. The annual defence bill is tangled over progressive pressure to cut money for the Iran war and military aid to Israel. The Senate hoped to launch votes on Monday on legislation to speed permitting reviews.
Key numbers
- About 6 weeks: the lame-duck sprint before the change of power.
- 3 January 2027: the day Republican majorities end.
- Mid-December: the government funding deadline.
- 2: the possible rivals for House Republican leader, Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan.
Hegseth impeachment and Stephen Miller as chief of staff
Rep. Thomas Massie pushed an impeachment resolution against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forward over the objections of House GOP leadership. He first introduced the 34-page resolution in September, arguing that Hegseth abused his office in the war with Iran, WXYZ reported. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries told ABC on Sunday, “I’m a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution.” Trump defended Hegseth to reporters on Sunday night.
Stephen Miller takes over as chief of staff on Monday. The reports do not say how he will deal with Congress.
Leadership contests in both parties
House Speaker Mike Johnson has decided to step aside. That sets up a possible showdown between Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. In the Senate, John Thune is expected to retain his job as Republican leader, though in the minority. Democrats are expected to hold their elections later this month. Senators-elect Abdul El-Sayed and Adam Hamilton have declined to publicly support Chuck Schumer’s bid to be majority leader, and no challenger has emerged.
What happens next
The first tests are the House Republican leadership vote this week and any floor vote on the Hegseth resolution. Read more on the US Congress, Donald Trump, the White House and Washington, D.C., plus our report on the US midterm results and our World pages.
Decisions made in this session set up the handover of power on 3 January 2027 and test whether Republicans can block a vote on Defense Secretary Hegseth. A funding failure by mid-December would risk a shutdown.