WASHINGTON – The war in Iran. Tariffs. The immigration crackdown. President Donald Trump’s pet construction projects.
Democrats are setting their investigative sights on a broad range of Trump priorities for when they take control of Congress in January.
“They are going to need to plant new forests for all of the subpoenas we’ll be printing,” Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, said on social media Nov. 3. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-California, who is in line to lead the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, posted on Nov. 3: “LAWYER UP.”
Trump, who has called previous congressional investigations “witch hunts” and hoaxes, has voiced indifference to the looming inquiries. He threatened to veto Democratic legislation that is hostile to his agenda
and said a third impeachment would only harm his rivals because of its divisiveness.
“I think it would destroy the Democrat Party, if they did that − because impeachment for no reason, what, for having a successful country?” Trump told reporters at the White House on Nov. 4. “Our country is more successful now than at any time in its history.”
Democrats plan to act quickly: 'They're sending a message'
Democrats have said they need to act quickly because voter anger over the high cost of living and the war on Iran is what defeated Republicans in the midterms. Both sides will be campaigning on the next two years in 2028, when the White House is at stake along with Congress.
"Two years ago, they sent a message. They're sending a message now. And if we don't deliver in the next few years, you're going to see them send another loud message," Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Michigan, said.
Some hearings could come together quickly because Democrats' goal would simply be highlighting Trump administration actions, legal experts said. The number of Securities and Exchange Commission’s enforcement actions was cut in half this year from the average during the Biden administration. Trump dramatically cut back the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which had returned $21 billion to consumers since it was created in 2011.
“You could have that hearing on day one in January,” David Leviss, a partner at O’Melveny who has worked at the Justice Department, the SEC and the House, told USA TODAY about the decline in SEC enforcement actions. “There can be a principled argument about whether those actions were properly within their mandate and whether they were fair. They’re just not doing it,” which he said could be part of congressional oversight.
Democrats take aim at Pentagon in Iran war, capture of Venezuelan leader
The war on Iran, the military capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and the sinking of alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean are already the subject of a Republican impeachment resolution against Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.
Hearings could dig deeper.
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington, who is in line to lead the House Armed Services Committee, said Nov. 4 he plans to “hit the ground running.”
“The list of potential oversight topics is long, but the illegal war against Iran is top of mind for me and the American people,” Smith said. “The list continues with the unauthorized military strikes in the Caribbean and Latin America, the deployment of the military to U.S. cities, and the blatant and corrosive politicization of our Armed Forces and purging of the ranks based on loyalty and ideology are high on the list.”
Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colorado, a former Army Ranger serving on the Armed Services and Intelligence committees, said on social media on Nov. 4 he was “going after Pete Hegseth.”
“Not only is he incompetent and corrupt, he’s undermining our national security and the safety of our troops,” Crow said.
Hegseth has shown no signs of quitting. Trump contends the Iran war was necessary to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. And he repeatedly highlights the deployment of National Guard troops to U.S. cities to help cut crime.
“I think he's doing a very good job,” Trump told reporters about Hegseth Nov. 4.
Democrat question tariffs, with breaks for beef, diamonds and smartphones
Passing major legislation could be difficult with divided government. Trump has threatened to veto Democratic bills he doesn’t like. But investigations and hearings could provoke public pressure to change policies such as tariffs.
“While an investigation itself might not lead to greater affordability on the part of consumers, Democrats hope it will be seen as fighting for people back home,” Kevin Barstow, a partner at O’Melveny who has served as senior counsel to President Joe Biden and served in senior staff roles in the House and Senate, told USA TODAY.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, who is in line to lead the House Judiciary Committee, has already demanded information about “sweetheart deals” to avoid tariffs on products such as Brazilian beef tongues, Chinese smartphones and Belgian diamonds.
Pilgrim’s Pride, a subsidiary of Brazilian meatpacker JBS, contributed $5 million to Trump’s inauguration, Raskin said. Tim Cook, who was then head of Apple, gave $1 million to the inaugural committee, he said. And Belgium’s Antwerp diamond sector gave Trump a ring with 321 diamonds, he said.
“While tariffs are supposed to be a toll to combat unfair trade practices, in your hands they have become yet another tool for grift and self-enrichment,” Raskin said in an Oct. 28 letter to Trump.
Tariffs raised prices an average of $2,500 this for each American family, according to Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee, which drew complaints even from Republicans.
“Tariffs have made everything too expensive, and the Iran war has dragged on too long,” GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said on social media Nov. 4. “There’s a very real economic disconnect.”
Trump built much of his domestic policy on tariffs. The fees on imports forced companies to build factories in the United States, raised money for the government and threatened countries to adopt U.S. policies. The economy added 165,000 jobs in October, including 19,000 in manufacturing, which the White House promoted as a vindication of tariffs.
“What we've done for you, we've not only saved our country, we're making our country the richest country ever in history, and that's a good thing,” Trump told a rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Nov. 1.
Immigration a top priority for Trump and congressional investigators
Trump’s crackdown on immigration was another centerpiece to his domestic policy. He closed the southern border to asylum seekers, dramatically increased deportations from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, and expanded detention.
But American citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good were killed protesting the tougher enforcement. House members have gotten into confrontations with Department of Homeland Security officials while trying to visit detention facilities. And DHS inspections of detention centers declined while the detainee population increased by more than 50%, according to a Government Accountability Office report Nov. 5.
Hector Diaz, managing partner of Your Immigration Attorney in Florida, said his latest concerns focus on DHS shifting detainees between states, which delays speaking with lawyers, and the brisker training provided Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to get them on the street.
“They have so much to investigate,” Diaz told USA TODAY.“I don’t know where they can start.”
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, who is in line to lead the House Homeland Security Committee, sent a letter Nov. 4 to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to preserve documents for potential investigation.
But Trump campaigned – for his own election and in the midterms – on closing the border to undocumented immigrants. He argued that strictly enforcing immigration policies helped reduce violent crime.
“They came in through the open borders, and they came in viciously and violently,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Nov. 4. “And we had a lot of problems with Democrats because they wanted to protect killers.”
Mullin has continued to promote Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations for securing the border and “CRUSHING” drug trafficking cartels.
“Deportations will continue,” Mullin said on social media Nov. 4.
Jeffrey Epstein remains the subject of inquiries
Democrats are eager to shine a spotlight on the Justice Department’s investigation of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, who died awaiting trial in 2019.
Congress approved legislation directing the department to release all its files about Epstein. But after releasing about 3 million pages, Attorney General Todd Blanche has said other records are duplicative or don’t fall under the statute.
Raskin, on the Judiciary Committee, released a report Oct. 26 that raised more accusations against Trump and questioned whether there is a cover-up. Raskin called for the appointment of an independent special counsel to investigate.
Garcia, on the Oversight Committee, said hearings could expose Epstein’s co-conspirators and spur additional criminal investigations.
“What we need to have is real public hearings where we bring survivors in, where people can tell their stories, where folks can be asked questions, where the committee can be engaged, and that hasn’t happened yet,” Garcia said on social media Nov. 4.
Trump has said he and Epstein traveled in the same social circles in South Florida, but that he broke off their relationship before Epstein was charged criminally. He’s denied visiting Epstein’s private island and called Democratic inquires a “fraud” and a “hoax.”
Elon Musk faces questions about DOGE
Elon Musk, the tech mogul who advised Trump on government cost-cutting and contributed $445 million to help Republican candidates in the midterms, could become the subject of several investigations.
Democrats targeted Musk for leading Trump’s advisory group, the Department of Government Efficiency, which recommended the abolition of some agencies and severe cost-cutting and layoffs at others. But critics said despite the turmoil that savings fell short of Musk’s projections.
Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Virginia, said Musk must testify about his role.
“Elon Musk waved a chainsaw on stage and laughed while he fired public servants and gutted the services Americans rely on,” Walkinshaw said on social media Nov. 2. “He must answer for it under oath.”
Musk is the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, and the owner of social media platform X. Democrats have questioned whether Musk received preferential treatment for billions in government contracts that his companies received or through regulatory oversight.
The SEC reached a settlement in July that required a trust in Musk’s name to pay $1.5 million for his taking too long to disclose the early purchase of shares in Twitter, which he later bought for $44 billion and renamed X. The SEC had initially sought $150 million that Musk saved in buying shares early.
U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan in DC expressed “significant misgivings” about the “red flags” raised in the case but approved the settlement.
Musk noted that Tesla has no government contracts and Trump ended federal incentives for electric vehicles. Musk said SpaceX government contracts provide the “best product” for the “lowest price.”
“Happy to cancel any that the government doesn’t want,” Musk said of the contracts on social media Nov. 6.
He previously said that if anyone picks a fight with him, he would “find out who is really pulling the strings and come for them, not just their puppets.”
Democrats to probe affordable housing and financial services
Pollsters found voters complaints about the high cost of living spurred much of the opposition to Republicans. Two Democrats – Reps. Maxine Waters of California and Sean Casten of Illinois – are competing to lead the House Financial Services Committee.
Waters said in a letter to colleagues she would target affordable housing, “junk fees,” medical debt and credit reporting. During a previous stint as chairwoman, she held a hearing for lawmakers to raise complaints with bank CEOS. Casten has been an outspoken critic of the crypto industry and its ties to Trump.
“It’s clear housing would be at the top of the agenda, in terms of affordability issues for committee Democrats,” Kevin Edgar, a partner at BakerHostetler and a former chief counsel of the House Financial Services Committee, told USA TODAY.“The private credit industry is at the top of the list of potential investigation areas. Clearly all of the financial regulators that are subject to the committee’s jurisdiction will be on the top of the investigation and oversight agenda.”
Democrats question funding of Trump White House projects
Trump has promoted White House projects such as the ballroom and the granite helipad as crucial to the White House. He proposed a 250-foot arch, which a judge temporarily blocked. And he overhauled the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall.
But Democrats call the enhancements vanity projects and plan to investigate their funding.
Rep. Jared Huffman, D-California, who is in line to head the Natural Resources Committee, which oversees the National Park Service, said he would investigate the destruction of the White House’s East Wing and what private contributors might have received in exchange for funding the ballroom.
“Trump has chosen to spend $1.82 billion in taxpayer dollars on projects to fuel his ego,” Huffman said in a social media post Oct. 2. “A new ballroom and a 250-foot arch won’t make anyone’s life better. At a time when Americans are being squeezed by everyday costs, Trump’s priorities could not be more out of touch.”
Trump shrugged off criticism of the projects. He has said the ballroom was needed to host larger state gatherings, to replace tents on the lawn. The helipad was needed to support more powerful helicopters, he said. And the Reflecting Pool hadn’t worked properly in the century since it was installed, he said.
“When I get criticized, like, why are you working on the White House, I'm doing it because the White House is the ultimate symbol of America, and it's got to be pristine,” Trump told reporters Nov. 4. “It's got to be perfect.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Hit the ground running.' Democrats plan numerous investigations of Trump
