With the GOP majority fracturing under President Trump’s erratic governance, Democrats are increasingly likely to seize control of Congress next year. Yet their silence on a concrete legislative agenda risks squandering the opportunity to restore faith in democracy.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the centrist New Democrat Coalition, and the Congressional Progressive Caucus have each floated policy blueprints, but no unified plan has emerged. As Frank and Emanuel warned, Democrats must avoid culture war traps and focus on substantive governance.
Rather than merely opposing Trump, Democrats could introduce specific bills now to fast-track in January. This package should target Trump’s abuses, repair damage to federal institutions, and close loopholes enabling presidential overreach. Here’s what they should prioritize:
Impeachment and Accountability
The next House could pass a focused impeachment resolution charging Trump with personal enrichment—including selling pardons—and violating the War Powers Act through unauthorized military actions like the Iran conflict. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche should also face impeachment for defying the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Defining Presidential Immunity
The Supreme Court’s 2024 immunity ruling requires Congress to distinguish official from unofficial acts. Democrats should legislate that any act enriching the president or his family is not official duty, preventing future abuses.
Climate Action
Congress should codify EPA’s 2009 finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health, reversing Trump’s rescission. Explicitly authorizing EPA to set national limits would accelerate clean energy transition, cutting costs for energy, food, and healthcare while bolstering economic resilience.
Justice Department Independence
Trump’s weaponization of DOJ has driven out over 10,000 attorneys. Congress must formalize the department’s independence from the presidency to restore equal justice.
Good Government Commissions
Two advisory panels should recommend fixes by 2028: one to address constitutional vulnerabilities Trump exploited, like presidential exemptions from ethics rules; another to rebuild federal science, public health, and foreign aid programs dismantled by DOGE.
Election Integrity
Restore the Voting Rights Act’s preclearance requirement and mandate independent citizen commissions for redistricting to counter Trump’s escalating feud with Senate GOP and election sabotage efforts.
International Leadership
A joint resolution reaffirming NATO commitment with a cap on U.S. contributions, plus treaty status for the Paris climate pact and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, would restore global confidence in America.
Trump’s damage to the federal government is profound, but Democrats can begin repair by legislating now. They must move beyond “not Trump” and offer a clear vision to save democracy.
