Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | January 6, 2025
Dear Friends:
Happy New Year! If you’re in the path of the winter storm, I hope you’re safe and warm. In an unusual confluence of events, Congress will be in session on a snow day today, as they convene to certify the 2024 electoral vote count. It is also a somber anniversary for many on Capitol Hill and around the country. Later this week, President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29, will lie in state at the Capitol before his funeral service on Thursday.
The rest of January will be a whirlwind, the beginning of what’s set to be a very busy start to the 119th Congress. The first confirmation hearings for President-Elect Trump’s nominees will begin on the Senate side next week. Meanwhile, Republican leaders in both chambers will be working feverishly to assemble reconciliation legislation addressing major priorities like tax cuts, immigration and energy policy that can win the support of both Republican Senators and Speaker Johnson’s micro-majority in the House. President-Elect Trump has weighed in on behalf of one all-encompassing package (or has he?) but the path forward is anything but clear.
This month, as the nation honors President Carter, Senior Fellow Laura Blessing offers a thoughtful retrospective of his time in office and afterwards. It’s a fascinating look at the unique place his presidency holds in a transitioning political landscape that today is almost unrecognizable in many ways.
As that political landscape continues to shift, we are here to explain the changing dynamics on the Hill and what they mean for agencies and organizations, from funding to policy-making to oversight. I highly recommend joining our New Congress class online next week for a key preview of the months ahead. And don’t miss our latest podcast episode, where Laura, Matt and Josh set the stage for the 119th.
Wishing you all a great 2025,
Kristin
Categories: Director's Desk, Media Center, Updates