President Trump lost Congress last Tuesday. And now he’s handed control of the White House to Stephen Miller.
Anybody who interprets that move as a peace offering to Democrats probably thinks a rattlesnake just wants a hug.
After all, Trump’s legislative agenda is effectively dead come January. Democrats will control both chambers and have enough subpoena power to keep a small army of lawyers employed. But Trump does not have to spend his remaining two years sulking in the Oval Office. Congress may control the legislative calendar, but it cannot simply switch off the executive branch.
Miller has a powerful opportunity to use existing presidential authority to keep Trump’s agenda moving despite Democratic control of Congress. The challenge is not simply finding ways around lawmakers. It’s identifying which decisions the executive branch can already make without their cooperation.
The first opportunity comes now. With fewer than two months of Republican control remaining, Trump can press Senate Republicans to confirm as many judges as possible, while the Dec. 11 funding deadline offers a final opportunity to secure provisions Democrats may spend years trying to undo. Some fights can also be left unresolved because the White House already has money and authority that will survive the change in Congress.
Immigration is the clearest example.
Congress approved nearly $70 billion in additional Department of Homeland Security funding earlier this year, much of it available through 2029. Democrats can hold hearings, threaten cuts, and denounce deportations, but clawing back money already appropriated requires legislation Trump can veto.
That financial advantage gives Miller enormous room to expand detention capacity, accelerate deportations, and strengthen cooperation with state and local police. The administration can pursue those priorities without waiting for Democrats to approve another immigration bill.
Miller can also concentrate enforcement operations in jurisdictions where Democratic leaders refuse to cooperate, creating confrontations that put those officials on the defensive and force them to explain their opposition.
Why? Because Miller doesn’t need to win every courtroom fight to keep Democrats talking about immigration instead of grocery bills. The political advantage comes from forcing those debates onto terrain where Republicans have traditionally enjoyed stronger support.
The next tool is the federal checkbook.
Russ Vought, Trump’s budget director, is pursuing changes to give political appointees greater influence over federal grants. Congress temporarily blocked the proposed overhaul through Dec. 11, but that restriction is about to expire.
Colton Overcash, The Federalist
