Investigation, division, gridlock: what to expect in 2023 US Congress
- President Joe Biden’s agenda facing an uphill climb in new Congress as Republicans take over the House
- Republicans have already confirmed that colleagues are mulling impeachment of Biden himself
After two years of one-party control, a fresh intake of US lawmakers will be seated on Tuesday in a Congress divided between a Democrat-led Senate and a House of Representatives with Republicans behind the wheel.
Despite its razor thin majorities, the 2021-23 Democratic-controlled Congress was one of the most productive in modern history, writing all manner of legislation – much of it bipartisan – on manufacturing, infrastructure, gun control, the climate crisis and more.
But Washington watchers fear the age of cross-party cooperation may be coming to an end, with the legislative process about to enter gridlock and Republicans promising an aggressive agenda of investigations into most aspects of President Joe Biden’s administration.
The party of former president Donald Trump has watched powerlessly from the sidelines over the last two years as Trump fended off multiple criminal, civil and congressional probes.
But the Republicans are plotting revenge with an intense programme of their own investigations.
One major target is likely to be Biden himself, and some Republicans have already confirmed that colleagues are mulling impeachment.