Gregory W. Meeks

Rule Changes

Former Chair of House Foreign Affairs Committee

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's February 2026 congressional testimony tested norms of Treasury oversight: two days of shouting matches with House Democrats (Maxine Waters asking to 'shut him up,' Gregory Meeks calling him a 'flunky'), followed by heated Senate Banking Committee exchanges where Democratic Senator Jack Reed called his conduct 'childish' and Senator Elizabeth Warren pressed him on whether Fed nominee Kevin Warsh would face investigations if interest rates aren't cut as Trump demands. Bessent refused to clarify, prompting Warren to call the situation 'an even taller steaming pile of corruption.'

Updated May 27

Rule Changes

Leading congressional opposition to oversight bypasses

For decades, the State Department has followed an informal practice: before announcing major arms sales, wait for the top members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee to review the deal. The Trump administration has now bypassed this congressional review three times in twelve months, pushing through more than $18 billion in weapons to Israel without committee approval.

Updated May 26