Democrats Weigh Using Budget Power to Force Trump Allies Into Cooperation
If Democrats win back the House majority in November, they plan to use congressional appropriations power to pressure the Trump administration into complying with subpoenas and to rein in the president's construction projects. Targets could include the White House West Wing renovation and a planned triumphal arch.
House Democrats, sensing a possible win in next year's midterm elections, are already mapping out oversight investigations they could launch if they retake the chamber's majority. Sources tell Wired's Inner Loop newsletter that one key lever under consideration is Congress's power over federal appropriations, aimed squarely at Trump's construction projects.
Congressional committee aides have reportedly begun exploring ways to compel officials and family members close to Trump to comply with subpoenas, many of whom have so far resisted cooperating with any inquiries.
Focus on vanity projects
With Trump notably focused this term on personal legacy projects, Democrats are discussing whether to threaten funding for the White House West Wing renovation or the planned triumphal arch, particularly if Trump continues to block investigations or unilaterally renames federal buildings.
Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said this week that cutting funding could also be used to curb projects already underway. He made the remarks after a divided Supreme Court allowed Trump to proceed with construction of a ballroom. Raskin argued that Congress, not the president, holds authority over White House appropriations and how the building is altered.
The subpoena enforcement problem
Enforcing subpoenas through the courts can drag on for years, as shown by the case of former White House counsel Don McGahn, who was subpoenaed during Trump's first term but never testified. Democratic aides are also considering other deterrents, such as cumulative fines under the House's inherent contempt authority.
Legal experts have long argued that the only truly effective fix would be legislation fast-tracking judicial review of contested subpoenas so disputes are resolved while a president is still in office. Even that approach has limits, since the Justice Department prosecutes subpoena noncompliance and would be unlikely to pursue officials within its own administration.
