The U.S. midterm elections will have a profound impact on the next two years of President Joe Biden's White House tenure. Here's what could happen next for his administration
U.S. President Joe Biden waves as he departs Joint Base Andrews for upstate New York, in Maryland, U.S., October 27, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
However, the first two years of Biden's presidency proved one-party control of Congress and the White House does not mean the president gets what he wants. Votes on non-budget issues like abortion and immigration would still likely need 60 Senate votes toThis scenario would hobble Biden's presidency by ushering in a flood of House-led investigations, and likely prevent the passage of any big new spending bills, which the House can block with a simple majority.
House Republicans likely to head committees on everything from homeland security to the judiciary have alreadyto investigate Biden cabinet members and COVID-19 funds; others want to take aim at his son Hunter's overseas work and the FBI's investigation of former President Donald Trump. Republicans have also pledged to flex their new muscles in the House by proposing spending cuts to Biden priorities such as multibillion dollars' worth of military aid to Ukraine or environmental initiatives. They would likely use the threat of partial government agency shutdowns or refuse to raise the debt ceiling if a Democratic-led Senate spurns their initiatives.