The current Republican-controlled 118th Congress is being accused of willingly surrendering its constitutional powers to President Donald Trump, according to a recent article in The New York Times. Reporters Carl Hulse and Catie Edmondson highlight the stopgap spending bill as an example, noting that it supports Trump’s agenda without any concessions to Democrats. House Republican leaders have also reportedly ‘quietly surrendered their chamber’s ability to undo Mr. Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China,’ aiming to avoid politically challenging votes for their members. The article further alleges that the GOP-led Congress has ‘cheered’ as Elon Musk’s DOGE has cut federal agency spending. Representative Richard E. Neal (D-MA) criticized Republican lawmakers for ‘abdicating their most important Constitutional obligation: oversight over the executive branch on trade,’ calling them ‘cowards who kowtow to the president.’ Historically, Congress has been more assertive in challenging presidents, but the current dynamic suggests a departure from that trend. Republicans deny these accusations, asserting they are fulfilling their duties responsibly. Meanwhile, Democrats express concern about the erosion of checks and balances under the current administration.