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January 28, 2025 Update
[New information bolded and italicized]The administration issued a steady drumbeat of executive action and announcements last week. These actions included two notable pieces related to national security and nuclear weapons: the announcement of a so-called “Iron Dome” for the United States and comments from President Donald Trump about denuclearization in Davos, Switzerland. In the Senate, work continued on President Trump’s nominees. The closest Senate vote on the new cabinet was the 50-50 vote on the nomination of Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense. Vice President Vance broke the tie, and Hegseth was confirmed. Three Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK) and former Republican leader Mitch McConnell (KY) joined all Democrats and Independents voting against confirmation. Other national security nominees who received votes in the Senate included John Ratcliffe to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and Kristi Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security. Both were confirmed easily. The way forward for former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to be Director of National Intelligence continues to be uncertain. The Senate Intelligence Committee has scheduled a confirmation hearing for Gabbard on January 30. Lastly, two government spending related points: there continues to be no clarity on whether the House- or Senate-preferred reconciliation approach will win out and rumblings about a full-year continuing resolution are growing louder. As a reminder, the current continuing resolution runs through March 14.
Tentative 2024 Congressional Recess Schedule*When noted that both the Senate and House are in session, the House and Senate schedules may diverge by a day or two* January 3 – March 14: Both Senate and House largely in session January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday and inauguration of President Donald Trump February 17: Presidents’ Day March 17 – March 21: Congressional Recess March 24 – April 11: Both Senate and House largely in session April 14 – April 25: Congressional Recess April 28 – May 23: Both Senate and House largely in session May 26: Memorial Day June 2 – June 27: Both Senate and House largely in session June 19: Juneteenth federal holiday July 4: Independence Day federal holiday July 7 – July 31: Both Senate and House largely in session August 4 – August 29: Congressional Recess September 1: Labor Day September 2 – September 19: Both Senate and House largely in session September 22 – September 26: Congressional Recess September 29 – November 7: Both Senate and House largely in session October 1 – November 7: Both Senate and House largely in session October 13: Columbus Day November 3 – November 7: Both Senate and House largely in session November 10 – November 14: Congressional Recess November 11: Veterans’ Day November 17- November 21: Both Senate and House in session November 24 – November 28: Congressional Recess November 27: Thanksgiving December 1- December 19: Both Senate and House largely in session December 19: Target Congressional adjournment |
