<h1>President intensifies direct influence over Congress through private strategy sessions, steering messaging and pressuring lawmakers on major tax-spending law</h1> The president has intensified direct influence over Congress by organizing private strategy sessions for House Republican staff, pressing lawmakers to abandon probes, and steering messaging on a major tax-and-spending law now criticized for favoring higher-income groups and cutting benefits, which the CBO says will reduce coverage and aid for millions. The administration has deployed federal law enforcement and National Guard forces in cities and used an uncommon executive funding rescission authority, raising separation-of-powers concerns and threatening a government shutdown. Congressional leaders from the president's party have largely coordinated with the White House, while opposition leaders denounce the executive's expansion of power and renewed investigative and impeachment-related maneuvers.