The White House has spent several months preparing for a potential Democratic takeover of Congress , formulating plans to advance core elements of President Donald Trump's agenda through executive action while bracing for congressional investigations, according to an administration official and two individuals familiar with the strategy.

Senior aides, including deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and budget director Russell Vought, have been working alongside the White House Counsel's Office since April. Their objective has been to identify executive measures on immigration, tariffs, housing costs, and federal spending that Trump can pursue without legislative approval, three sources told Reuters.

White House counsel Will Scharf and his staff are also assessing "what Trump can legally do on his own, where he could push the limits of his authority and how to defend those decisions in court," the White House official noted.

These preparations highlight a key paradox of Tuesday's midterm elections : while…