{
  "id": 18396062,
  "title": "Who’s in and who’s out of US foreign policy circles after Republicans lose the midterms",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/whos-in-and-whos-out-of-us-foreign-policy-circles-after-republicans-18396062",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T22:48:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/11/05/us-reshuffle-foreign-policy-midterms/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The considerable shift in US foreign policy circles is set to occur following the Republican Party's substantial losses in the recent midterm elections. The Democrats will now hold sway over key committees in both the House and Senate, granting them the authority to scrutinize the State Department and Pentagon. Notably, Gregory Meeks is set to become the chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, superseding the current Republican chairman, Brian Mast. Similarly, Adam Smith is expected to lead the House armed services committee, replacing Mike Rogers as the Republican incumbent. On the Senate side, Jack Reed is anticipated to take over as chairman of the armed services committee, replacing Republican Roger Wicker. Chris Coons is widely predicted to assume the role of leader of the foreign relations committee upon the retirement of its present Democratic leader, Jeanne Shaheen in January.\n\nThese appointments have yet to be formally ratified and may undergo alterations. The midterm elections delivered a significant setback to Republican foreign policy expertise. For instance, Senator Susan Collins, a key voice on national security who sat on the Senate intelligence committee and led the defence appropriations subcommittee, lost her seat in Maine. Thom Tillis, a Republican Senator, is set to retire, with his position being won by Democrat Roy Cooper. Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican foreign policy expert who passed away in July, saw his seat taken by Democrat Annie Andrews. Additionally, Mitch McConnell and Michael McCaul, both Republicans, are set to depart from Congress, with the former retiring and the latter stepping down after serving 11 terms. Representative Mike Turner, who chaired the House Intelligence Committee from 2023 to 2025, lost his bid to Democrat Kristina Knickerbocker.\n\nThe incoming Democratic chairmen of the foreign policy panels are expected to wield considerable influence over the issues that receive congressional attention. The Iran war is likely to be a focal point, with Democrats having previously challenged President Trump's decision to launch military operations without congressional approval. The new chair, Gregory Meeks, has indicated his intention to introduce resolutions in the House to immediately terminate President Trump's war with Iran and prioritize clawing back Congress's role in shaping American foreign policy. The Pentagon's budget will also be a major point of contention, with Democrats set to scrutinize the administration's requests for additional funding and its broader military priorities. Israel is another area where the change in committee leadership could have consequences, as incoming politicians may impose increased scrutiny of arms transfers and conditions attached to US support. The new Congress is set to convene in January.\n\nIn the executive branch, speculation is rife regarding who might join or depart President Trump's cabinet, though no confirmations have been made thus far. The State Department has dismissed reports suggesting Secretary of State Marco Rubio might resign. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considered vulnerable due to the poorly received Iran war, which affected voter sentiment. When queried about potential staffing changes on Friday, Trump stated that the Pentagon chief had performed admirably.",
  "summary": "The Republican Party’s massive losses at the midterm elections mean Washington's foreign policy outlook is about to undergo a major shift, with the Democrats taking control of powerful committees in the House and Senate that provide oversight of the State Department and Pentagon. After nearly two years on the sidelines, the Democrats will have the power to investigate the Trump administration and…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}