Congress returned on November 9 for the 119th Congress’s lame-duck session, with Republicans still controlling both chambers and Democrats preparing to take over in January; lawmakers have only weeks to advance priorities that could shape the Iran War, federal spending and the parties’ agendas.

Both parties are also preparing for leadership elections as the current Congress winds down.

House Republicans are expected to choose between Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan to succeed Mike Johnson, while some Senate Republicans want to delay their leadership election to discuss the party’s losses and consider whether to challenge John Thune.

House Democrats plan to elect their leaders on November 18 or 19; Hakeem Jeffries is expected to stay in place despite calls from some constituents for new leadership, and a challenge to Chuck Schumer is considered unlikely.

Still, aides to Sen. Chris Van Hollen have hinted that he may run against Chuck Schumer for Senate Majority Leader.

A privileged impeachment resolution filed by Thomas Massie against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to reach the House floor this week unless Republicans delay it; it alleges illegal executive overreach in Hegseth’s pursuit of the Iran War.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has said he is a “hard yes” on impeachment, and the House may vote Wednesday.

Hakeem Jeffries and House Democrats are expected to support the measure, and two Republicans beyond Massie would be enough to pass it; a Senate trial could consume time, though conviction is unlikely without 20 Republican votes.

The vote could increase pressure on Trump to remove Hegseth and complicate bipartisan negotiations over the Iran War; if Republicans block or postpone it, Democrats are expected to pursue impeachment after taking control of the House in January.

Congress must extend or replace its stopgap funding bill by December 11, and Democrats can block funding in the Senate, facing pressure to use that leverage to halt or wind down the Iran War.

Rosa DeLauro, the top House Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said Democrats would not fund Trump’s war with Iran, raising the prospect of a spending standoff and a difficult holiday period for federal employees; Democrats could instead accept another short-term funding bill and resume the fight in January.

Some Republicans are pushing for a final budget reconciliation bill that could include more defense or ICE spending, domestic-program cuts, tax benefits for GOP constituencies or election measures; tight timing and the need for near-unified Republican support make Trump’s strategic choices pivotal.