Democrats in the House and Senate will gain subpoena power in January, opening the door to investigations of President Donald Trump, his administration, his family and other figures in his orbit. Their majorities also deliver control of committee gavels and the authority to hold hearings, conduct depositions and compel testimony and documents.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries previewed that agenda when he told MS NOW that Democrats would “hold the crooks accountable.” Now that the party has secured congressional majorities, lawmakers must decide which investigations to pursue first.

Democrats on the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees have spent months building inquiries involving White House officials, Trump’s family, projects reshaping Washington and alleged wrongdoing by people inside and outside the administration. Those efforts are expected to accelerate once Democrats assume control.

Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee and its expected next chairman, said the panel’s oversight will “expand next Congress.” He said Democrats already have investigators and experienced counsel working on those matters, with significantly greater capacity coming in the majority.

Rep. Robert Garcia offered a blunter warning Tuesday evening as Democrats won House control. The California Democrat, who is expected to lead the House Oversight Committee, directed a simple message toward Trump’s orbit: “Lawyer up.”

A source familiar with House Democrats’ plans told MS NOW that lawmakers are expected to send a “flurry” of letters in the coming weeks. Those letters will revisit unanswered questions and warn other potential subjects, including private individuals and companies, that scrutiny may be coming.

One prominent target is Jared Kushner, Trump’s son in law. House Judiciary Democrats have intensified questions about Kushner’s simultaneous roles as a White House peace envoy and private businessman, while widening their investigation to examine a luxury resort he wants to build.

Raskin has also called on Kushner to recuse himself from negotiations involving Ukraine and the Middle East. Kushner has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

House Oversight Democrats are separately examining allegations involving Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former United States ambassador to Greece and former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr. The inquiry concerns allegations that Guilfoyle sought money from a Trump donor in exchange for access to the administration.

Trump’s finances are another likely focus. His annual financial disclosure, totaling 1,000 pages and filed in June, showed that his business ventures generated more than $2 billion in revenue during 2025.

That total included more than $500 million Trump reported earning from World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company he founded with his sons before returning to office. A House Democrat has already opened an inquiry into a reported investment connected to a top United Arab Emirates official, and additional financial investigations are expected.

Trump told CNBC in July that there was “nothing illegal” about the cryptocurrency venture. Democrats, armed with subpoena power, will now have greater ability to demand records and testimony as they examine the president’s business activities.

The new majority will also confront whether to pursue enforcement measures against Trump and members of his inner circle. House Democratic leaders have neither ruled out nor publicly embraced impeachment after Democrats impeached Trump twice over actions connected to his first term but failed to secure Senate convictions requiring Republican support.

Some Democrats have expressed openness to impeachment proceedings against administration officials, particularly War Secretary Pete Hegseth. The House is already expected to face an impeachment vote concerning Hegseth when lawmakers return for their lame duck session.

Jeffries told campaign crowds that if Democrats captured the majority, “one of the first things that we do is to run Pete Hegseth out of town.” Raskin has also argued that the threat of impeachment could trigger changes inside the White House.

Democrats plan to continue examining the Epstein files and the administration’s handling of their release. House Oversight Democrats have called for Attorney General Todd Blanche to testify and previously announced a review of Ghislaine Maxwell’s transfer to a lower security prison after her meeting with Blanche.

Other panels led by Democrats are expected to pursue inquiries into Trump’s redesign of the Capitol and surrounding landmarks. Those subjects include the destruction of the East Wing for a ballroom, changes to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, plans for a Memorial Arch near Arlington National Cemetery and a public golf course redesign.

Democratic subpoena power will not guarantee cooperation. During Trump’s first term, the White House routinely resisted congressional investigations, while an August Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel memorandum concluded that executive privilege can cover presidential communications with private outside advisers.