White House Plans for Possible Democratic Takeover of Congress

The White House is mapping executive options on immigration, tariffs, housing and federal spending if Democrats take control of Congress, preparing President Donald Trump to advance parts of his agenda without congressional approval.

The review has been underway since April. Senior officials, including the deputy chief of staff and budget chief, have worked with the White House Counsel’s Office to identify measures Trump could take without a congressional vote.

White House counsel and the office’s team are examining the legal limits of presidential action and how the administration could defend its decisions in court. The planning also accounts for possible congressional investigations of the Trump administration.

Trump has held rallies around the country over the past month to try to preserve Republican control of Congress. Aides have privately begun preparing for a markedly different political landscape in 2027.