Week Ahead in Washington: May 11

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - President Donald Trump departs for the Middle East, Congress works on ing his agenda and the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments over his push to end birthright citizenship.

Trump heads to the Arabian Peninsula Tuesday to meet with leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Aram Emirates leaders to discuss ongoing wars and trade.

While the president is overseas, Congress will continue working on Trump’s budget that he’s described as “one big, beautiful bill.” Using the process known as reconciliation, it would essentially add funding for the pentagon and border patrol and reduce spending for a wide array of social programs. The process allows the U.S. Senate to the bill with a simple 51-vote majority bying a potential Democratic-led filibuster.

On Wednesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will have budget hearings. They come as the U.S. Department of Transportation has come under fire for problems at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey due to issues with radar control.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments on the legality of Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship. This decision will be critical to the Trump istration’s future immigration policy.