Democrats secure congressional majorities, gaining future control of science oversight

Democrats secured at least 237 House seats and 54 Senate seats in the US midterm elections, Nature reported as of 2.15 p.m. EST on 4 November. The results give them majorities in both chambers, with some states still counting votes. When the new Congress takes charge on 3 January 2027, Democrats will control congressional committees, including science committees, and can use legally binding subpoenas to compel administration documents and testimony. Representative Zoe Lofgren said she would seek leadership of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, which oversees NASA and the National Science Foundation. The majorities fall short of the two-thirds needed to override presidential vetoes, limiting their ability to enact legislation countering the administration's science policies.