Overview
- The Washington Post reported Monday that the White House Counsel's Office has been holding private, 30-minute briefings with PowerPoint slides for political appointees on how to handle congressional oversight.
- Officials who attended said lawyers urged staff to watch what they put in writing and to respond to congressional requests completely and on time.
- Attendees described the tone as sober and said the talks assumed significant Democratic gains in November, pointing to polls that show 62 percent of Americans disapprove of President Trump.
- A White House official said the guidance is routine and has been offered since January 2025, rejecting the idea that the latest sessions are unusual.
- If Democrats gain control of a chamber, committee chairs would have subpoena power that could launch broader investigations and push officials to change how they communicate and keep records.