Jeffries to lead House Democrats with focus on healthcare and investigations

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is on track to become the first Black Speaker of the House when the new Congress convenes in January. An ABC News projection indicates that Democrats will take control of the chamber, allowing them to set the legislative and investigative agenda for the upcoming session.

Jeffries stated that his administration will prioritize restoring expired Affordable Care Act premium subsidies and reversing Medicaid cuts included in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. He also plans to address the cost of groceries, gas, and housing. Jeffries told ABC News correspondent Jay O'Brien that the group is focused on the affordability crisis.

Legislative efforts will include a push to end global tariffs and restore congressional authority over trade policy. Democrats also intend to act to end the war in Iran, a conflict that began on February 28 without congressional authorization.

Oversight committees will launch simultaneous investigations into the Trump administration. Rep. Robert Garcia, the presumptive chairman of the House Oversight Committee, released a two-word statement on Tuesday: Lawyer up. Garcia plans to subpoena Attorney General Todd Blanche regarding the Department of Justice's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. He also intends to hold public hearings on those files and interview Jared Kushner about family business dealings.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, the presumptive chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, will investigate the politicization of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He plans to examine the firings of career prosecutors and the use of an 1.8 billion dollar Anti-Weaponization fund. Raskin also intends to probe allegations that presidential pardons were exchanged for corporate contributions.

Rep. Adam Smith, the presumptive chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, will oversee the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Smith plans to examine the decision to wage war in Iran and the strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean. He will also look into the firing of senior military leaders and the defense budget.

Attorney General Todd Blanche testified in June that the Constitution does not require the president to explain pardon decisions. He described the pay-to-play accusations as a non-issue. The White House has not yet responded to ABC News requests regarding cooperation with the new oversight requests.

Raskin told the Punchbowl that impeachment remains a constitutional tool the committee will consider if the benefits exceed the costs. He noted that impeachment motions consume significant energy but remain an option for holding the president accountable.