Shutdown looms from Congress as Epstein drama and crime crackdowns make for a chaotic return

With Congress back in session after its August recess, lawmakers are facing a litany of critical issues, including a potential government shutdown, ongoing drama over the Jeffrey Epstein files, and the future of President Donald Trump’s authority over the D.C. police force. The House and Senate have only 14 days to avert a partial government shutdown, as the deadline for fiscal year 2026 funding is September 30.

No agreement has been reached yet on spending priorities, making it highly likely that a continuing resolution (CR) will be needed to temporarily extend funding at fiscal year 2025 levels. This puts Republicans, who control both Congress and the White House, in a tight spot, as a shutdown could have politically damaging consequences.

Democrats are already signaling that they’re ready to play hardball, unhappy with Republican efforts to claw back previously appropriated funds. According to Fox, any funding bill will need to pass through the Senate’s filibuster threshold, which means Senate Majority Leader John Thune can only afford to lose a few votes. This is making bipartisan negotiation crucial, but trust between the two parties is wearing thin.

Another shutdown is looming for Congress

A White House official told reporters that a clean CR without any riders would put Democrats in a difficult position and pin the blame for a shutdown on them if they rejected it. To be fair, Republicans have very little room for error themselves; two special elections in safe blue seats will shrink their House majority from three seats to two.

Beyond the looming shutdown, a bipartisan effort to force a House-wide vote on releasing the Department of Justice’s Jeffrey Epstein records is expected to move forward this week. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna are leading a “discharge petition,” a procedural tool that can force a vote on legislation even against the wishes of House leaders. While the DOJ has already agreed to hand over some files to the House Oversight Committee, Massie and Khanna are pushing for a full release.

Speaker Mike Johnson previously dismissed the petition as a tool of the minority party, but said if a vote was necessary, they would have one. Khanna told NBC News that he and Massie have enough commitments to force a vote, and Massie stated on X that he would file the discharge petition on September 2nd. Massie has been defying President Trump, who has labeled the investigation a “hoax” and taken aim at Massie for his efforts. This is a move to keep promises that were made to release the files.

This week will also see the end of President Trump’s 30-day hold over the Washington, D.C. police force, which he federalized as part of a crackdown on crime. His authority over the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) will expire unless Congress passes a joint resolution to extend it.

Trump has suggested he could bypass Congress and declare a national emergency to extend his control, a move that some Republicans are already on board with. Additionally, the deployment of federal troops into the District doesn’t have a statutory end date, so it’s not clear what route will be taken. However, a leadership aide told Fox News that House leaders are working with the White House on a package of legislation to address crime in D.C. This whole situation is definitely a chaotic return, but it will be interesting to see how all the pieces fall into place.