Democrats are preparing a tough agenda of congressional investigations against technology giant Elon Musk, newly appointed White House chief of staff Stephen Miller and big US companies after the Republican Party’s poor performance in the US midterm elections. The probes are expected to begin once Democrats take control of Congress in January, potentially posing a major political challenge for President Donald Trump in the next phase of his administration. Senior Democratic lawmakers have vowed to step up congressional oversight of government officials, corporate behavior and contentious policy decisions, Reuters reported.
California Representative Robert Garcia, expected to head the House Oversight Committee, said investigations would look into Musk’s involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), particularly its role in federal workforce reductions last year, Reuters reported. Garcia indicated that multiple congressional committees wanted to question Musk about his influence over government reorganization.
Stephen Miller’s Immigration Policies Become a Major Target
Stephen Miller is also expected to come under congressional scrutiny for his influence on Trump administration immigration policies. Trump recently named Miller as White House chief of staff, placing one of his closest political advisers in a powerful position. Garcia said Miller’s role in major administration decisions makes his role a key subject of congressional investigation. Reuters reported that Miller has been closely associated with the administration’s hard-line immigration enforcement strategy.
Democrats could get another political boost from public dissatisfaction with immigration policy. In an October Reuters/Ipsos poll, just 37% of Americans approved of Trump’s handling of immigration, compared with 50% when he took office. The findings highlight the mounting political challenges facing the administration’s immigration agenda. Reuters also reported that federal agents shot and killed two people during enforcement operations in Minnesota.
Senator Elizabeth Warren is preparing to expand congressional scrutiny beyond government officials. The Massachusetts Democrat, who is expected to lead the Senate Banking Committee, warned that corporations accused of exploiting American families or misleading investors should prepare for serious investigations. Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, Warren indicated that companies involved in questionable business practices could face increased scrutiny. However, she did not identify any specific corporations as investigation targets.
Democrats Signal Support for Hegseth Impeachment
Another major development involves Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who could face an impeachment effort backed by Democratic lawmakers. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is supporting a resolution targeting Hegseth. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky said he plans to re-introduce articles of impeachment against the defense secretary.
Jeffries told ABC’s This Week that he strongly supported the proposal, citing Hegseth’s handling of the war in Iran triggered by Trump in February and its economic fallout, including rising gasoline prices. The proposal would have to go through the constitutional process in Congress, and impeachment proceedings could pose serious political problems for the administration.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Todd Blanche warned that the Trump administration will fight back against Democratic investigations. The administration will defend its officials and allies against what he sees as politically motivated attacks, Blanche said, according to Reuters.
With Democrats preparing to take over Congress in January, Washington is heading into what could be a contentious period in politics. Congressional discussions in the coming months could centre on investigations of Musk, Miller, corporate America and other administration officials. But the real consequences will depend on the evidence uncovered, the scope of the investigations and how aggressively Democratic lawmakers wield their new congressional authority.
