White House briefs staff for possible Democratic gains in midterms

The White House Counsel’s Office has been privately briefing political appointees on how to handle congressional oversight if Democrats make gains in the November midterm elections, the Washington Post reported on Monday.

According to the report, officials are being advised to be careful in written communications and to respond quickly to congressional inquiries. The Post said such briefings have been held since the start of Donald Trump’s second term in 2025, but recent sessions have taken on a sharper midterm focus.

The report said some administration officials see the briefings as preparation for a possible loss of at least one chamber of Congress by Republicans.

Concerns inside the administration come as a recent Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll showed Democrats with a 5-point advantage on the generic congressional ballot among registered voters. The poll was conducted April 24-28 among 2,560 U.S. adults, including 2,059 registered voters.