As Republican and Democratic lawmakers trade blame for the U.S. government shutdown, some have begun to worry that the impasse is ceding their authority over federal spending to an increasingly assertive President Donald Trump.

The Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse and oversight over military actions, but recent actions by the White House appear to step on that authority. We discuss whether Congress has ceded its power to the Trump administration and what it would take to get it back.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas suggested the Senate may be reluctant to confirm some Pentagon nominees unless the policy is reversed.

Carl Hulse is the chief Washington correspondent for The Times, primarily writing about Congress and national political races and issues. He has nearly four decades of experience reporting in the nation’s capital.

Most Pentagon personnel will need approval from the legislative affairs office before talking to members of Congress or state legislators, according to a memo.

A new memo on communications with Capitol Hill, signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his deputy, follows restrictions on reporting out of the Pentagon.

Colorado Libertarians’ civil war included lawsuits, competing factions claiming control and prior leadership attempting to place independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has largely banned military officials – including the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force – from speaking with Congress unless they coordinate with a centralized office that reports to him.