STAT+: House Democrats may use oversight powers to plan for health care overhaul

Sept. 16, 2026 John Wilkerson, a Washington correspondent, is the author of D.C. Diagnosis, a twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. WASHINGTON — Democrats are vowing to aggressively pursue oversight if they win control of either the House or Senate in November’s midterm elections. Health care issues, including President Trump’s drug pricing deals, are potential targets. It’s common for parties to turn to oversight when they take control of a congressional chamber. Lawmakers can use oversight to tell a story about the other side. It also avoids intraparty divisions by focusing attention on what the other party has done. And if Democrats want to keep the focus on Trump, even though he can’t run again, oversight is a good way to do that. If Democrats flip either chamber, they’ll gain subpoena authority, giving them the power to force the administration and company executives to testify and respond to inquiries. However, the administration could forcefully push back on those efforts. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily intelligence on Capitol Hill and the life sciences industry — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe