Weekly Washington Update: November 6, 2026

Blank Rome Government Relations LLC (“BRGR”) provides the Weekly Washington Update to inform you of recent developments in Congress and Washington. For information on President Trump’s Executive Orders and other actions, please see our Executive Order Tracker.

Top of the News:

• Democrats Gain Upper Hand in Spending Fights Following Midterm Victory - Democrats’ decisive 2026 midterm victories are set to reshape federal spending negotiations, appropriations leadership, debt ceiling battles, and oversight of the Trump administration. 
• Democrats Prepare Congressional Challenge to President Trump’s Tariff Policies - Democrats are preparing a broad campaign to curb President Trump’s tariff powers through repeal legislation, expanded oversight, investigations into tariff administration, and heightened scrutiny of the economic impact of tariffs on consumers and businesses. 
• Democratic Gains Reignite Debate Over Federal Permitting Reform - Lawmakers are reassessing a bipartisan permitting reform proposal, balancing calls to strengthen environmental justice protections against arguments that the compromise bill offers a rare opportunity to accelerate energy and infrastructure project approvals. 
• BLM Advances Alaska Statehood Land Settlement - The Bureau of Land Management cut Alaska's outstanding statehood land selections by more than 5 million acres, expanding subsistence access and resource development opportunities while advancing completion of the state's land entitlement process. 

2026 Midterm Elections Results as of Friday 11/6/26:

House of Representatives 

• Democrats entered the election with 214 seats and according to NBC News, currently sit at 249 seats and are project to win up to 259. This would be a net gain of 45 seats. 
• Republicans, who entered the election with 220 seats, currently sit at 158 seats and are projected to fall to roughly 176 seats, a net loss of approximately 44 seats. 

Senate 

• Republicans began the cycle with a 53-47 majority. 
• NBC News projects that Democrats will secure at least 54 seats, representing a net gain of at least seven Senate seats. 
• Major Democratic pickups include Republican-held seats in Texas, North Carolina, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, South Carolina, and Maine, with a handful of races still being finalized.
• As of Thursday evening, both Mississippi and Alaska have not been called. 

Net Congressional Seat Changes (Projected via NBC News) 

• Note: Several House and Senate races remain uncalled, and final seat totals may shift slightly as vote counting continues. 

Budget, Tax and Small Business

Democrats’ Midterm Victory Upends Funding Battles: Democrats’ sweeping 2026 midterm victories, which delivered sizable majorities in both the House and Senate, are expected to significantly reshape upcoming federal spending battles and congressional oversight. In the near term, Democrats must decide whether to complete fiscal 2027 appropriations negotiations with the outgoing Republican majorities or wait until the next Congress, when they will hold greater leverage over the Trump administration. The election results will also trigger major leadership changes on the appropriations committees, with Democrats such as Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) poised to reclaim key chairmanships, while the defeat of Susan Collins creates openings among senior Republican appropriators. Looking ahead, Democrats will have a stronger hand in shaping fiscal 2028 spending priorities, potentially directing more funds toward domestic programs, while looming fights over the debt ceiling and government funding could become major points of contention with the White House. The shift in power is also expected to intensify congressional scrutiny of federal spending decisions and Trump administration budget actions. (BGOV) 

Fiscal Hawks Press for Last Budget Bill After Election Losses: Following Republican election losses that will hand Democrats greater influence, fiscal conservatives led by Andy Harris (R-MD) are urging Congress to use its remaining legislative days to pass a final budget reconciliation package that would lock in conservative priorities, enact additional spending cuts, extend federal borrowing authority, and reduce Democratic leverage over future debt-limit and spending negotiations. House Republicans have long sought a follow-on reconciliation bill to fulfill promises made by Mike Johnson (R-LA) to include spending reductions omitted from earlier tax and border-security legislation, with support also coming from outgoing Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX). However, the proposal faces significant obstacles, including concerns about increasing deficits, stalled Senate budget efforts, and the need for near-unanimous Republican support in the Senate. Analysts warn that adding items such as defense spending and farm aid may help attract votes, but the prospects for passing a fourth major reconciliation package during the lame-duck session remain uncertain. (BGOV) 

Defense and National Security

Democrats’ Victories Set Stage for Showdown Over Trump’s Tariffs: Democrat lawmakers are expected to intensify efforts to challenge President Trump’s tariff agenda. Democrats are preparing legislation to repeal key presidential tariff authorities, including Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. While they will be able to hold hearings, force votes, and launch investigations when the new Congress convenes in January, they are unlikely to immediately undo existing tariffs because any repeal legislation would face a presidential veto. Democratic leaders, including Ron Wyden, also plan to expand congressional oversight of trade policy, investigate alleged favoritism and corruption surrounding tariff exemptions, and examine how companies handled tariff-related costs and refunds. The issue is politically significant because rising consumer prices were a central voter concern in the midterms, and Democrats argue that Trump’s tariffs on goods such as Canadian imports, automobiles, steel, and aluminum have contributed to inflation and increased costs for consumers. (BGOV) 

Democrats Eye Big Tech Following Midterms: Congressional Democrats are signaling that oversight of the artificial intelligence industry and major technology companies will become a top legislative priority. Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) called for investigations into AI firms, public testimony from AI executives, and legislation to protect jobs, privacy, and public safety, arguing that voters rejected Republicans in part because of their ties to wealthy technology leaders. Meanwhile, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and other Democrats have suggested an aggressive oversight agenda, including subpoenas and continued scrutiny of AI-related issues such as data center energy use and consumer costs. The anticipated push reflects growing Democratic concerns about the lack of AI safety regulations, the technology industry’s relationship with President Trump, and the increasing political influence of major AI and technology companies. (The Hill) 

Transportation

Secretary Duffy Invests Over $1.24 Billion into Safety Upgrades Across America’s Rail System: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the Federal Railroad Administration (“FRA”) announced more than $1.24 billion in rail safety investments through 91 grants across 37 states under the FY 2025-2026 Railroad Crossing Elimination (“RCE”) Grant Program. The funding is aimed at reducing accidents and improving mobility by eliminating dangerous highway-rail crossings, constructing grade separations, closing at-grade crossings, and upgrading rail signaling systems. Notable projects include major investments in Texas, Idaho, Missouri, Georgia, Arizona, and Minnesota to address chronic rail conflicts, improve emergency response times, and reduce delays caused by blocked crossings.

The announcement is part of a broader administration effort to promote what the Department calls a “Golden Age of Rail.” According to the Department of Transportation, nearly $10 billion has been invested in rail infrastructure this year, including a separate $5.3 billion rail funding package announced in August and $2.3 billion awarded earlier through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (“CRISI”) Grant Program. Officials stated that these investments are intended to enhance rail safety, modernize infrastructure, improve freight and passenger rail performance, and reduce the impacts of rail operations on local communities while supporting economic growth and the efficient movement of goods nationwide. (U.S. Department of Transportation Press Release) 

Energy and Environment

Permitting Revamp Back in Spotlight After Democrats’ Midterm Win: Democrats’ victories in both the House and Senate have reopened debate over federal permitting reform, giving them greater leverage to shape legislation governing energy and infrastructure project approvals. Many Democrats and environmental justice advocates remain skeptical of a bipartisan Senate permitting proposal negotiated over the past year, arguing it could weaken environmental protections, increase pollution risks, and reduce the influence of communities most affected by climate change and fossil fuel development. Leaders such as Jared Huffman contend that Democrats should use their strengthened negotiating position in the next Congress to pursue a more favorable deal rather than accepting the current framework during the lame-duck session.

Supporters of the Senate proposal, however, argue that it represents the best opportunity in decades to modernize what many view as an overly slow and cumbersome permitting process. Backers and industry groups emphasize that the measure reflects significant compromises from both parties and could accelerate clean energy, infrastructure, and economic development projects. They warn that abandoning the deal could delay meaningful reform for years, especially given competing legislative priorities and political uncertainty. As Congress prepares to consider the bill, the debate will center on whether lawmakers can preserve bipartisan support while addressing Democratic concerns about environmental justice and community impacts. (BGOV) 

Natural Resources and Native American Issues

BLM Takes Historic Action to Settle Alaska’s Land Pattern for All Alaskans: The Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) announced a major step toward resolving Alaska’s long-running statehood land entitlement process by reducing the State of Alaska’s excess land selections by more than 5 million acres, including over 4 million acres of selections and nearly 1 million acres of top filings. The action opens more than 4 million additional acres to federal subsistence use under ANILCA and also makes those lands available for potential federal mining claims, benefiting both rural users and Alaska’s resource sector. According to Kevin Pendergast, Alaska State Director for BLM, the move advances efforts to fulfill promises made under the Alaska Statehood Act of 1959 and related laws, while bringing greater certainty to Alaska’s land ownership pattern. The federal government has already conveyed more than 96% of the 105 million acres owed to Alaska under statehood, and this latest action is part of a broader initiative to complete outstanding land transfers and support responsible resource development across the state. (Bureau of Land Management Press Release)