The White House is holding closed briefings for Donald Trump administration officials to prepare them for possible increased congressional oversight in the event of a likely Democratic victory in the midterm elections. This was reported by The Washington Post (WP) on May 4, citing two knowledgeable sources.
According to the media, the preparations are taking place against the backdrop of expectations of a significant victory for the Democrats in the midterm elections to the US Congress, which will take place in November.
The article states that the briefings last about 30 minutes and include presentations on the workings of congressional oversight, as well as recommendations for interacting with it. Officials are advised to be careful with written language and respond promptly to requests from legislators.
According to one of the officials who attended the briefing, the White House considers it “very likely” that Republicans will lose control of at least one chamber of Congress. He described the conversation on this topic as “sober.”
WP reports that the White House has confirmed that relevant recommendations have been given since January 2025. An administration official noted that the Office of Legal Counsel “ensures that oversight procedures are followed and best practices are in place,” adding that “this is nothing new.”
At the same time, as the newspaper notes, the latest briefings, some of which took place over the past month, are taking place in a different political context and have “strong implications” of the upcoming midterm elections.
According to the publication, some employees perceive them as preparation for possible negative scenarios, given the growing feeling within the administration that the Republican Party may lose ground.
According to the newspaper, President Donald Trump's popularity is declining amid economic difficulties associated, in particular, with the war with Iran. According to a poll conducted by WP in conjunction with ABC News and Ipsos, Democrats have a five percentage point advantage in support for the House of Representatives (up from two points previously).
