‘Mr. Veto’: Trump maps a path to govern without Congress if Republicans lose control

Anticipating that Democrats may win control of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections, the White House has spent months drawing up ways to pursue President Donald Trump's priorities without lawmakers, Reuters reports, citing an administration official and two people familiar with the effort. Since April, Stephen Miller, a deputy chief of staff, and Russell Vought, who directs the Office of Management and Budget, have worked with the White House Counsel's Office, led by Will Scharf, to find unilateral steps on immigration, tariffs, housing costs and federal spending, and to prepare legal defenses, according to The Independent.

Proposals include import duties on wind turbines and critical minerals, tougher visa requirements for temporary foreign workers and international students, and efforts to cut construction and housing expenses. Vought is also examining which programs can proceed using money Congress already appropriated, and he wants to change grant rules so political appointees have more say over funding.

Trump said he would veto bills for a month or two if Republicans lose, then strike deals. Democrats need a net gain of four seats in each chamber; they are favored in the House, while the Senate is very tight. A Democratic Senate could still block nominees.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →