The new Republican-led Congress kicked off its 2025 session on Friday.
Lawmakers were sworn in at the U.S. Capitol to mark the start of the 119th Congress, with Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress and the presidency.
Here are five things to know about the 119th Congress:
The Balance of Power
The GOP trifecta puts President-elect Donald Trump in a good position to push his agenda forward.
While Republicans may have the majority in the lower chamber, the margin is slim. The GOP had a five-seat majority when the final House races were called in the 2024 election. Florida’s congressional District 1 is currently vacant due to the recent resignation of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and a special election will be held to fill that empty seat. The House margin will narrow even more as Trump chooses several House members to serve in his new administration.
With a slim majority in the House, Republicans may face some challenges to pass legislation. Any dissenting lawmakers from within the caucus could risk a vote.
As for the upper chamber, Republicans hold 53 seats compared to Democrats’ 47. Previously, Democrats held a 51–49 Senate majority, but Republicans flipped seats in Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia in the 2024 election. Since Vice President-elect JD Vance can break ties, Senate Republicans can afford to lose three votes on legislation that require a majority.
New Faces on Capitol Hill
Dozens of newcomers were sworn into the 119th Congress on Friday.
Some notable new House members include Rep. George Latimer (D-N.Y.) who defeated progressive “squad” member Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) in a Democratic primary last year for New York’s 16th congressional district.
In California, Rep. George Whitesides (D-Calif.), a former Virgin Galactic executive and former senior NASA official, narrowly ousted Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.) for the state’s 27th congressional district, flipping the seat blue.
In the upper chamber, Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) is Pennsylvania’s newest senator. McCormick defeated three-term Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) in a high-profile race that won Republicans another seat.
Representative turned Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) became the first Latino to represent Arizona in the U.S. Senate after he defeated Republican Kari Lake in another closely-watched race.
Top Policy Priorities
With Trump’s return to the White House and GOP lawmakers in a congressional majority to accomplish their policy goals, Republicans in both chambers have been planning an ambitious 100-day agenda.
Senate Republican leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has detailed a potential legislative package that could include energy, border security and defense priorities. It could be approved in the first 30 days of the new administration, according to The Associated Press.
Trump on the campaign trail pledged to deliver an “economic revival” through lower taxes, bigger paychecks, and more jobs for American workers. Many provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Trump’s signature policy achievement, are set to expire at the end of 2025. Republicans want to extend those provisions and may even want to make some of them more permanent. Tax credits from the Affordable Care Act are also set to expire. The credits, which lower premium costs, could be included in broader tax legislation in the new Congress.
GOP lawmakers are also looking at funding a major new border security initiative that would include completion of Trump’s signature border wall.
A New Look at the Trump Administration
Trump’s second administration looks a lot different than his first White House term.
When Trump first assumed office, members of his family quickly became part of his inner political circle.
However, Ivanka Trump, the president-elect’s daughter and prominent figure in his first administration, has now vowed to step away from politics.
“I love my father very much. This time around I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family. I do not plan to be involved in politics,” she said in a 2022 Instagram post after her father announced his third run for the presidency.
Her husband, Jared Kushner, also served as senior advisor in the Trump White House from 2017 to 2021.
Instead of family members, some political outsiders have joined Trump’s inner circle. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has become one of Trump’s closest allies. Musk has been tapped to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, along with Vivek Ramaswamy, a former presidential candidate and another political outsider.
Cabinet Confirmations
The Republican-controlled Senate will likely confirm nearly all of Trump’s Cabinet nominees and picks for other key positions. But nominees must still appear before bipartisan committees as part of the confirmation process.
Those crucial hearings could get heated as senators on both sides of the aisle address criticisms of Trump’s more controversial picks.
This includes Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice for defense secretary. The decorated Army National Guard veteran and former Fox News host is currently facing several misconduct allegations.
Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, has also been seen as a controversial pick. Patel has been a fierce critic of the agency he is chosen to lead and has publicly discussed the need to completely reform the FBI.
Trump’s first choice for attorney general, former congressman Gaetz withdrew from consideration as multiple allegations against him surfaced.
However, the Senate could choose to expedite the confirmation hearings of some national security nominees in light of the recent deadly terror attack in New Orleans and a fiery explosion of a vehicle outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas.
“The US Senate must confirm President Trump’s national security team as soon as possible. Lives depend on it,” Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) wrote in a Jan. 1 post on X.