As September unfolds, President Donald Trump faces important affairs, domestic and abroad. Some of the matters he has to face include negotiations with the Congress to prevent a government shutdown, pressuring Russia and Ukraine towards a peace agreement, defending his tariffs economic agenda, the termination of his police force in Washington, D.C., and the fight over the release of Epstein files.
Government shutdown deadline
A potential government shutdown looms at the end of the month, and President Trump must reach a deal with Congress to avoid it. While Republicans control both the House and Senate, they still need Democratic support to pass a funding bill.
Tensions between the two parties are high after Trump canceled nearly $5 billion in foreign without congressional approval. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine called the move “a clear violation of the law,” and Democrats argue it undermines Congress’s constitutional control over government spending.
According to The Wall Street Journal, “Operating through a stopgap measure, however, makes it easier for the Trump administration to pull back funds, since it isn’t bound by the set of detailed instructions that accompany ordinary appropriations bills.”
If no agreement is reached by October 1, federal employees could go without pay, and many government services could be delayed or suspended.
Foreign policy tensions
Trump gave Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a two-week deadline to move forward on a ceasefire and reach a peace agreement. “I know exactly what I’m doing. We’re going to see whether or not they have a meeting, that will be interesting to see, and if they don’t, why didn’t they have a meeting because I told them to have a meeting. But I’ll know in two weeks what I’m going to do,” Trump told CNN in a statement. Unclear if he will proceed with new sanctions.
Meanwhile, President Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 1, to discuss President Trump’s foreign policy challenges.
Tariffs and court battle
On August 29, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit rejected President Trump’s tariffs on foreign goods, as most of them are illegal. However, the tariffs will remain in place until October 14, to allow the administration time to let the US Supreme Court to take up the case.
Legal experts expect the Supreme Court to take up the case this fall, though a final decision is unlikely before the end of the year.
Law enforcement powers
President Trump’s emergency takeover of the Washington, D.C., police force is set to expire on September 10. To extend it, both chambers of Congress would need to pass a joint resolution. During Trump’s Oval Office appearance, he has shared plans to send National Guard troops to cities like Baltimore and Chicago to address crime.
Congress returns to the capitol
Congress is back in session after more than a month-long recess, and lawmakers have to start negotiations to avoid a government shutdown.
Along with funding negotiations, they’re reigniting the release of government files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. According to The Wall Street Journal, Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie are gathering signatures for a petition that could force a vote to make the files public.
The renewed focus on Epstein follows the Justice Department’s decision to turn over sealed documents to the House Oversight Committee.
Trump’s actions this September could shape the rest of his presidency and the political landscape. With deadlines approaching and opposition building in Congress and the courts, how he navigates these challenges will determine whether he strengthens or strains his grip on power.
