WASHINGTON — Democrats and business leaders publicly lobbied the Trump administration Wednesday to prioritize work permits and other protections for long-term immigrants during the lame-duck session of Congress and beyond.

Citing the midterm elections, when Democrats flipped the U.S House and Senate, and President Donald Trump’s recent admission that his immigration crackdown hurt Republicans at the ballot box, Democratic lawmakers argued that voters were clear about wanting immigration reform before the start of the next Congress. 

Congress has a lengthy to-do-list for the lame-duck session, possibly including government funding, the annual defense policy bill, the farm bill, a measure to regulate the college sports landscape and permitting reform to ease regulation on large construction projects. 

“We owe it to these families to try anything, and I’m willing to try anything,” Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego said. 

He was joined by American Business Immigration Coalition Action, which lobbies for work permits and legal pathways for long-term immigrants, and the South Texas Builders Association, a local trade group that represents the construction industry that has a workforce that is 30% immigrant nationwide, and Democratic U.S. House members from Texas.

Asked how receptive the White House would be to work permits for immigrants, which the administration has vigorously worked to limit, Gallego didn’t directly answer.

Trump’s mixed signals 

The administration has revoked millions of immigrants’ work permits in the last two years. Many were workers in hospitality, healthcare and the construction industries. 

But shortly after the midterm elections, the president said he was open to  making a deal on work permits in certain industries. 

At the same time, though, he elevated Stephen Miller, an official who has crafted some of the president’s harshest immigration policies, to White House chief of staff. 

“I think right now the best thing the White House could do is to actually try to send some type of signal, besides talk, that they’re serious about this, and the way to do that is to have some reforms already at (Immigration and Customs Enforcement),” Gallego said. 

“Whether it’s shutting down the detention centers, giving (a) certain level of protections, whether to veterans so they don’t get deported, to maybe parents of U.S. students so they don’t get deported, something to show that it’s not just talk, and this isn’t going to be a policy that’s led by Stephen Miller,” he added.

The vice chair of South Texas Builders Association, Benny Melendez, had a pointed message for Miller.

“If you want to continue harassing our communities, prepare yourself not only to lose your job, but … these same communities you are now harassing will make sure you lose the White House” in 2028, he said. 

Next Congress

If lawmakers are unable to get any major reforms through the crowded end-of-year session, Democrats are looking ahead to when they control both chambers next year.

House Republicans on Tuesday elected Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, a staunch Trump supporter who has not supported immigration reform, to lead them in the minority. 

Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, the incoming chair on the subcommittee that handles government funding for the Department of Homeland Security, said he’s not worried about Jordan because  Democrats will have a majority in January.

Cuellar, whom Trump pardoned after he and his wife were indicted on charges of bribery, money laundering and conspiracy, said he’s going to use his subcommittee gavel to add guardrails on ICE and clear the backlog at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which processes legal immigrants.

Gallego said he thinks the Senate will be able to get to 60 votes on some type of immigration reform legislation in the 120th Congress, when Democrats will have at least 54 and up to 56 seats depending on races that are still too close to call.

Whether that overhaul is in one bill or a series of increments is up for debate, Gallego said. 

“If we can pass a big, beautiful conference immigration reform bill, the Trump immigration reform bill, and if that gets them on our side or not, then let’s do that,” Gallego said. “But if that doesn’t work, then I do think incremental passes to start protecting different communities I think is also an option. We should not avoid that either.”

WASHINGTON — South Dakota Sen. John Thune will remain Republican leader next Congress despite the GOP’s loss of the chamber’s majority in this year’s midterm elections.

GOP senators voted behind closed doors Tuesday to keep Thune at the helm and reelected Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso as their whip. Neither was challenged. 

The other members of Senate Republican leadership will include Republican Conference Chair Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Republican Policy Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Vice Chair of the Republican Conference James Lankford of Oklahoma and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Bernie Moreno of Ohio. 

‘Listening intently’

Thune said after the meeting that he and other Republicans were not happy with the results of the midterm elections but will focus more on voters’ concerns in the years ahead. 

“As we move forward, we are going to be listening intently to what the American people are saying,” he said. “And I think right now the issue that matters the most to them, like I said, is the cost of living.”

Thune pledged to extend the lame duck session that spans November and December to give Republicans more time to confirm nominees and approve legislation before handing over power to Democrats in early January. Republicans now hold 53 seats and The Associated Press projects they will have 44 next year, with results in Alaska and Mississippi still not called.

“Our conference is committed to being here to do whatever it takes to get as much done as we can,” he said. “That means extending the calendar here, the number of days we’re here, the number of hours we’re here, the number of votes we may end up taking. But we are going to finish this legislative session strong.”

Push for nominations

There was an attempt by several Republican senators to delay decisions about leadership for at least a week, but they were ultimately unsuccessful. 

Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt said after the meeting that Republican leaders had committed to clear as many nominees through the chamber as possible. Democrats are unlikely to approve President Donald Trump’s picks for the federal bench or administration roles after January. 

“We’re definitely going to maximize the next 54 days for sure,” he said. 

Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said ahead of the vote that he wanted to delay until later this year to give Republicans an opportunity to “change course” following the election results. 

“It’s easy to blame other people, but we need to look at what has happened here,” he said, questioning why Republican leaders didn’t put bills on the floor to lower the cost of gasoline and healthcare. 

“If you don’t put people first, sooner or later people turn on you,” Hawley said. “And I think that this party thought we can just do whatever we want. People voted for us in ’24, we’ll do whatever we want. No you can’t. You’ve got to do stuff that actually helps people.”

‘Never disappoint voters again’

Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson said following a morning conference meeting that Republicans were “voicing opinions on all sides of the issues.” 

“It’s one of those times in the Republican Conference, you kind of go, ‘We got … some smart people, and we’re having a very good respectful conversation,’” Johnson said. 

Ohio’s Moreno said later in the day that Republicans are committed to “never disappoint voters again.”

“We’re firmly aware of the consequences now, and that’s the strategy we’re going to employ in 2028,” he said. 

60 votes needed

Thune will still have considerable power as minority leader as long as Democrats keep a rule that requires 60 senators vote to advance legislation. 

The hurdle forces bipartisanship on major proposals. But even if Democrats were to remove it next Congress, bills would still need Trump’s support to become law, unless there are supermajorities in each chamber to override a veto.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth struck a defiant tone Tuesday as he faces potential impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives this week, casting the effort as an attack on American service members.

Hegseth during a rare news conference at the Pentagon called the impeachment effort a “farce” and flatly rejected the notion that he had committed impeachable offenses as the top civilian leader of the military. He likened himself to President Donald Trump, who was twice impeached during his first term.

“Let’s be clear about what this resolution actually does. It tells our enemies — Iran, the cartels, every adversary watching — that the United States will actually punish its own warriors and its own civilian leadership for successfully executing lawful military operations,” Hegseth said.

The House, led by Republicans during the lame-duck session following the Nov. 3 election, is set to vote on impeaching Hegseth as soon as Wednesday, with a procedural vote expected later Tuesday. 

Massie impeachment articles

Rep. Thomas Massie, an outgoing Kentucky Republican, introduced articles of impeachment Monday alleging the defense secretary waged unlawful war against Iran, ordered extrajudicial killings and ignored laws intended to minimize civilian casualties, among other charges. 

Impeachment would represent an extraordinary rebuke of one of the most divisive members of Trump’s Cabinet. Democrats, as well as some Republicans, are expected to support the effort, raising the possibility the articles will pass and trigger a trial in the Senate, though the outcome is unclear there.

Hegseth, a 46-year-old former Fox News personality who narrowly won Senate confirmation last year, has sought to project a swashbuckling, masculine image as the military’s top civilian leader. He has rebranded the Department of Defense as the “Department of War,” purged numerous high-ranking officers and tried to kick critical media outlets out of the Pentagon.

On Tuesday, Hegseth called Massie a “disgruntled and defeated congressman” who is attempting a “political spectacle” driven by ego and resentment. Massie, who has often clashed with Trump, lost his primary in May to a Trump-backed challenger.

“It’s a farce and it’s a stunt and everybody knows it,” Hegseth said.

Drug boats

Massie told reporters on Monday that Hegseth’s conduct of the military has endangered Americans. 

As an example, he pointed to a second strike conducted on survivors of a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean that had already been hit, suggesting it will encourage enemies of the U.S. to act similarly in the future. Hegseth has denied ordering the strike, but said he supported it.

Massie dismissed Hegseth’s attacks on him, adding that he was “being polite” by using the impeachment process, which would only remove Hegseth from office but not subject him to criminal charges.

“Well, he’s right about one thing, I’m a defeated congressman. I’m not disgruntled,” Massie said.

The House can impeach Hegseth with a simple majority vote, though GOP leaders may first attempt to derail the measure with procedural votes, such as sending the articles to a committee. 

But convicting Hegseth and removing him as defense secretary will take a two-thirds vote in the Senate — 67 senators — a high bar to clear. 

The Senate is currently composed of 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats, including two independent senators who caucus with Democrats. Beginning in January, Democrats will control the chamber with at least 54 seats.

Trump praise

Trump has so far stood by Hegseth. He praised the defense secretary in multiple public remarks over the past two weeks,  saying he’s “done a fantastic job” in reducing the number of “woke” four-star generals, and for conducting the “war with Venezuela,” which he said “was over in 48 minutes.”

“Pete Hegseth should be praised, not Impeached. Congress, stand up for Pete!!!” Trump wrote in a social media post on Monday.

Impeachment would mark a significant escalation in Congress’ push to restrain Trump’s war in Iran — and its efforts to assert authority over presidential warmaking. The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, something lawmakers haven’t done since World War II.

The U.S. military, in conjunction with Israeli forces, attacked Iran in late February. The American campaign, overseen by Hegseth, killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and numerous other Iranian officials. 

Iran retaliated by firing missiles at U.S. bases across the Middle East and moving to cut off traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping point for oil. The lack of safe, regular access to the strait has sent energy prices rising in the U.S. and around the world.

War Powers Resolution

The articles of impeachment include three articles alleging Hegseth directed military operations against Iran in violation of the War Powers Resolution, legislation Congress approved in 1973 over the veto of President Richard Nixon. The War Powers Resolution sets limits on when presidents can engage in military conflict without authorization by Congress.

The legality of the War Powers Resolution has long been disputed, with the executive branch asserting it improperly interferes with the president’s conduct of foreign policy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as recently as May called the War Powers Resolution unconstitutional.

Impeachment would signal that executive branch officials could face consequences if they don’t abide by the War Powers Resolution.

“Pete Hegseth is obligated to follow the laws on the books, not the laws that he wants to follow,” Massie said Monday.

Hegseth disputed the allegations, saying he had overseen lawful military operations first ordered by Trump. He said initiating the impeachment effort ahead of Veterans Day on Wednesday sends a message to service members that “their service was a crime.”

“We destroyed terror regimes’ capabilities. We sank the boats carrying poison into our communities. We put a narco dictator in handcuffs,” Hegseth said. “These are not high crimes. This is the job, and it’s a job well done.”

Next Congress

Massie, who has said he would drop his impeachment effort if Hegseth resigns, suggested that the defense secretary will face more intense scrutiny in the next Congress if he survives the current impeachment effort.

Democrats, Massie said, will hold hearings on Hegseth’s conduct that could prompt more Republican senators to vote to convict him. Democrats will have a strong majority in the House beginning in January and will almost certainly have enough votes to impeach Hegseth if Massie’s effort comes up short.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat expected to become speaker in January, told reporters Monday that he is a “hard yes” on Massie’s articles of impeachment.

“He’s the architect of the reckless and costly failed war of choice in Iran,” Jeffries said of Hegseth.

On Monday, Trump told reporters at the White House that Hegseth had won two wars, referring to the conflicts in Iran and Venezuela, where U.S. special forces seized President Nicolás Maduro in a nighttime raid. Maduro is now awaiting trial in the United States on federal narco-terrorism charges.

Eighteen U.S. service members have died since the start of the war in Iran on Feb. 28, with the most recent deaths in July, according to the Defense Casualty Analysis System. No service members died in Venezuela.

Trump questioned why leaders who oversaw past wars with far higher casualty counts weren’t impeached.

“We lost 18 — 18,” Trump said. “They lost 65,000 in Vietnam.”

Ashley Murray contributed to this report.