Senate Unveils Top Assignments for Appropriations, Judiciary, and Finance Committees

Several senators join the Appropriations, Judiciary, Finance, Foreign Relations, and Commerce Committees, where they will gain new influence over policy.

A staircase for Senators inside the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Jan. 2, 2025. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

WASHINGTON—As the 119th Congress takes office, the leaders of the Senate Republican Conference and Senate Democratic Caucus have unveiled their proposed committee assignments, which will heavily influence the policy agenda of the Senate for the next two years.

Standing committees—which are permanent committees—in the Senate are the first bodies to review legislation and take a leading role in preparing it for votes on the Senate floor. The chairmen of these committees wield significant power over this process.