According to a report by Reuters, Trump’s White House has been preparing for months for the possibility that Democrats could take control of Congress. Plans are being developed to advance key administration programmes by exercising executive powers without congressional approval.

Reuters reported the development, citing a White House official and two other people familiar with the plans.

According to the sources, since April, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Budget Director Russell Vought and officials from the White House Counsel’s Office have been working on the issue. They are identifying possible executive actions on immigration, tariffs, housing costs and federal government spending that could be taken without congressional approval.

White House legal adviser Will Scharf and his team are reviewing what the president can legally do unilaterally, where he risks exceeding his authority and how such decisions could be defended in court, the White House official said.

The plan highlights a significant political reality ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections. If Democrats gain control of Congress, they will be able to investigate the Trump administration, block legislation and challenge its spending priorities. However, Trump’s broad executive powers over trade, foreign policy and the federal administration will remain in place.

To secure majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, Democrats need a net gain of four seats in the House and enough seats in the Senate. Republicans currently hold a 218-214 majority in the House and a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Opinion polls indicate that Democrats are leading in the race for the House, while the Senate contest remains uncertain.

Trump has held campaign rallies across the country over the past month, urging voters to maintain Republican control of Congress. Privately, however, his aides are preparing for a different political landscape in 2027.

The White House has dismissed concerns about a possible Republican defeat, saying the media is promoting a misleading political narrative.

White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said, “This administration and principled Republicans will continue to secure the border, restore law and order, put more money back in the pockets of hardworking Americans and deliver results for the people.”

### Plans to Change Tariff and Visa Policies

Among the executive actions under consideration are new tariffs on imports of critical minerals and wind turbines, stricter visa rules for international students and temporary foreign workers, and measures to reduce housing and construction costs.

A person familiar with the plans said various federal agencies had submitted proposals that are undergoing legal review to determine whether they could be implemented without fresh congressional approval.

Russell Vought, director of the US Office of Management and Budget, is already examining which priority programmes can be implemented using funds previously approved by Congress. There are also plans to change government grant rules to increase the influence of politically appointed officials in deciding which programmes receive federal funding.

The sources said these measures could increase the White House’s control over federal spending without requiring new congressional approval.

The White House official said Trump had been briefed on the preparations and had participated in the discussions. Asked how comfortable Trump would be governing through executive powers under a Democrat-controlled Congress, one person familiar with the plans replied, “Very comfortable.”

### Efforts to Govern Without Congress

Since returning to office for a second term in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly tested the limits of presidential executive authority. Without congressional approval or new legislation, he has imposed sweeping tariffs, intensified immigration enforcement, reduced the federal workforce and taken various foreign policy actions, including the war against Iran.

One major exception was Trump’s sweeping tax and government spending reduction package. He signed it in July 2025 after it was approved by the Republican-controlled Congress.

Nathan Gonzales, editor of the nonpartisan election analysis publication Inside Elections, said, “Over the last two years, President Trump has largely tried to ignore Congress and do as much as possible through executive orders and executive authority. My assumption is that he will continue this approach even if Democrats win a majority.”

Trump has repeatedly declared national emergencies to expand his ability to take action without new legislation. Congress can attempt to overturn such emergency declarations through a vote. However, Trump can veto such a measure. Overriding the veto would require a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate.

A Democratic takeover of Congress, however, could create several obstacles for the Trump administration.

If Democrats gain control of the Senate, they could block Trump’s nominees for various positions in the Justice Department and the executive branch, including appointments to the Supreme Court.

Andrew Busch, a professor of public policy at the University of Tennessee’s Knoxville campus and an author on the history of midterm elections, said, “I think Democrats will be very reluctant to confirm the president’s nominees.”

Democrats could also block legislation backed by Trump. However, Trump could veto bills he opposes. Democrats are unlikely to secure enough votes in the House to override such a veto.

Meanwhile, courts can strike down executive actions that exceed the president’s legal authority. According to a person involved in the planning, the administration intends to seek legal opinions from the Justice Department to determine what Trump can do without congressional approval and how to defend those decisions if they face legal challenges.

Preparations to Face Democratic Investigations
One major challenge that cannot be avoided through executive orders is congressional oversight and investigations.

Reuters previously reported that senior House Democrats and committee officials had discussed investigations involving hearings, subpoenas and requests for documents. Their aim is to examine whether Trump used his presidential powers to benefit himself, his close associates or his donors.

Three Reuters sources said Trump’s aides had been preparing for the possibility of such investigations for several months.

One source said White House lawyers had briefed politically appointed officials and heads of federal agencies on how to respond to congressional questions, document requests and subpoenas. Officials had also been advised to exercise caution in their written communications.

The source added that the Justice Department had been asked to provide its opinion on whether the president could invoke executive privilege to shield his communications and conversations with personal advisers from congressional investigations.

Source: Reuters