House GOP launches defense plan to shield Trump from looming Democrat investigations

FIRST ON FOX: House GOP leadership is giving Republican lawmakers a new playbook to go up against an expected barrage of Democrat-led investigations in the new Congress.

Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., wrote a letter to the current chairs of House committees on Thursday warning them to "maximize our remaining days in power to prepare for what is coming" with instructions on how to brace for those expected probes. A source sent a copy of that letter to Fox News Digital.

"House Democrats have signaled they intend to impeach President Trump, but they will not stop there. They will weaponize every single gavel to appease their radical base," Scalise said. "They will use their oversight authorities to harass the President, his family, cabinet officials, and they will seek to destroy our allies. You all will be a key line of defense in this fight."

The guidance includes three key points: "taking inventory" of current and likely future investigative efforts by Democrats while they are in the minority, identifying who is on Democrats' target list, and reviewing how recent Supreme Court rulings as well as a Department of Justice (DOJ) memo on executive privilege could factor into future investigations.

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President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a campaign rally at the Ocean Center Arena on Oct. 30, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Democrats' targets could include "administration officials, programs and authorities, and external allies, including conservative partners and industry leaders," Scalise said.

He added that his staff would meet with the relevant committees and others to further prepare.

"Please let me know if there are any additional tools or support you need from me as you undertake this important effort," Scalise wrote. "I have full confidence that we will be effective in our efforts to fight back as a team."

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Democrats have signaled they are poised for a wide range of investigations targeting Trump's Cabinet, family, businesses, and allies as soon as they take over Congress next year.

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the likely next head of the House Oversight Committee, released a brief statement Tuesday night when it was projected Democrats would win the House: "Lawyer up."

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, joined by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, holds a news conference after a House Republican Conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 13, 2026. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

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The committee said in the statement, "Following this win, Garcia will become Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, where he has vowed to take on the Trump Crime Family, corporate corruption, DHS and ICE abuses, and the cover-up of the Epstein files. His statement can be found below."

House Homeland Security Committee Democrats have similarly signaled they are preparing to probe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

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Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for House Judiciary Committee Democrats told Fox News Digital in response to Scalise's letter, "Sounds like Rep. Scalise is asking his fellow Republicans to compile a list of all the corruption, lawlessness, and abuse they’ve been protecting from congressional oversight. But the people have spoken, and the cover-up expires with the Republican majority. The days of invertebrate congressional submission are over."

The letter comes a day after Scalise launched a bid to become House minority leader in the new Congress.

He will be up against House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, for the job.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Democrats on the House Oversight Committee for comment.