How the next Congress will shape US national security policy

  • Fri, November 13, 2026 • 12:00 pm ET
  • virtual event

A new balance of power in Washington will reshape US defense and foreign policy. Scowcroft Center experts examine what’s at stake for national security at home and abroad.

On Friday, November 13 at 12:00 p.m. ET, the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security will host a virtual discussion on the national security implications of the 2026 midterm elections.  

With Democrats set to control both chambers of Congress, the Trump administration faces a new balance of power in its final two years. Experts will examine how this political shift could reshape US defense priorities, foreign policy, and the United States’ role in the world—and what it could signal for the future of American foreign policy beyond the Trump presidency. 

The effects will reach far beyond Washington. Allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific will be watching closely for signs of continuity or change in US commitments, partners in the Middle East will be assessing Washington’s approach to the ongoing war with Iran, and US adversaries will be evaluating what the new political landscape means for American resolve. This discussion will break down what to expect. 

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Speakers

Joe Costa
Director, Forward Defense, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
Atlantic Council

Markus Garlauskas
Director, Indo-Pacific Security Initiative,
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
Atlantic Council

Andrew Peek
Director, Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative and GeoStrategy Initiative, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
Atlantic Council

Torrey Taussig
Director and Senior Fellow, Transatlantic Security Initiative, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security,
Atlantic Council

Moderated by

Tressa Guenov

Tressa Guenov
Senior Director, Programs and Operations and Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security,
Atlantic Council

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