Congress reconvened this week amid critical challenges including escalating U.S. military engagement in Iran, a continuing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding shutdown, and impending expulsion votes against two House members facing allegations.
Iran War Support and Legislative Efforts
Members of Congress are confronting tough decisions around the war in Iran as President Trump moves to intensify U.S. military presence, including a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The administration plans to request $80 billion to $100 billion in supplemental funding to support military operations, scaling back from an initial anticipated $200 billion.
Democrats, determined to restrict the president’s war powers, are pushing for votes to curtail ongoing military action. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries emphasized efforts to secure bipartisan support to end what he termed a “costly and reckless war of choice.” Despite a recent narrow defeat of a war powers limitation in the House, Democrats intend to revisit the issue, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer similarly advocating for congressional authority over war decisions.
Many Republicans express growing unease about long-term support for the conflict, with some signaling willingness to oppose further military engagement if it extends beyond the 60-day limit stipulated in the 1973 War Powers Resolution.
Prolonged DHS Funding Deadlock
The DHS remains unfunded since February 14 after Capitol Hill failed to pass an appropriations bill. Although the Senate unanimously approved funding excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and parts of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), House Republicans rejected that plan. Instead, they pursued a temporary funding measure to cover the entire department.
Following initial resistance, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a tentative agreement to fund DHS as per the Senate’s framework but plan to address immigration enforcement funding through the budget reconciliation process. Senate leaders aim to expedite funding ICE and CBP by June 1 using reconciliation, which bypasses the need for Democratic support, though some House Republicans remain opposed until the process is fully completed.
Expulsion Votes for Swalwell and Gonzales
Congress is also preparing for potentially historic expulsion votes following scandals involving two representatives. Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California suspended his campaign for governor amid sexual assault allegations, which he denies. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) announced plans to force a vote to expel Swalwell from the House.
Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, who admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide and has dropped his reelection bid, is also expected to face an expulsion vote from Democrats. Additional expulsion motions may target other members, including GOP Rep. Cory Mills and Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, though successful expulsion requires a two-thirds majority. Lawmakers may consider alternative disciplinary actions such as censure.
Why it matters
Congress’s actions this week will shape limits on presidential war powers amid growing concerns over the U.S. role in Iran, affect national security through resolved DHS funding, and set precedents for legislative accountability with rare expulsion votes. These developments come with tight deadlines and political divisions that will test GOP and Democratic cooperation in a highly polarized environment.
Background
Congress has been out since prior to President Trump’s warning of severe consequences if Iran did not agree to a ceasefire, which was temporarily established for two weeks. The DHS shutdown began in mid-February over disagreements primarily related to immigration enforcement funding, affecting thousands of federal employees. Expulsions from the House are historically rare, with only six members expelled previously, including George Santos in 2023.
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