The Senate returned to Washington on Monday facing a thinner Republican margin and a crowded to-do list after Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sudden death over the weekend. His absence removes a reliable GOP vote as leaders try to restart business, according to the Associated Press and Fox News.
The agenda is packed and unsettled. Reports cite government funding, a lapsed surveillance law known as FISA, U.S. military strikes related to Iran, and a push from President Donald Trump for his election bill, the SAVE America Act. The AP said Republicans also face confirmation fights, including for the attorney general nominee.
Graham’s committee roles make the loss more disruptive. He chaired the Budget Committee and sat on Appropriations and Judiciary — panels central to spending, nominations, and any Iran-related votes, the AP noted. Trump praised Graham’s role counting votes and brokering deals, the AP reported.
Several deadlines and disputes are colliding. Reports say Blanche’s confirmation could come soon and that some Republicans have questions. Coverage also said the administration’s reported resumption of strikes related to Iran could spur efforts in the Senate to limit presidential war powers. The AP described reported GOP infighting over Iran strategy and said some Republicans are pressing for a budget with more defense spending tied to the conflict.
There’s also a bipartisan track to watch. Before his death, Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal announced a package of new Russia sanctions, the AP reported. Blumenthal told the AP he hopes the Senate will still move ahead.
The political math is tight. The AP described a narrow Senate majority heading into Monday and said Republicans now have fewer votes until a successor is sworn in. In the meantime, every absence or defection looms larger. Fox News framed the next few weeks as a sprint in which Senate Majority Leader John Thune could try to keep Republicans unified while Democrats test for cracks on high-profile votes, from nominations to election rules.
Complicating matters further, former GOP leader Mitch McConnell remains absent while recovering from health issues, the AP reported. He has said he cannot return to the floor yet. That leaves fewer senior Republicans on hand to steer spending bills or manage sensitive national security debates.
Why it matters
A thinner majority means close votes on issues that touch daily life: keeping the government open, renewing surveillance authorities, and setting defense policy. With Graham gone and McConnell sidelined, routine business could take longer — and big fights over elections and Iran policy may be even harder to settle.