House Democratic leaders said Tuesday they would launch a longshot effort to force a vote on a bill preventing cuts to key federal safety-net programs.

The discharge petition is meant to put political pressure on Republicans as they eye cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in writing their domestic policy megabill.

“All we need are four House Republicans to join Democrats in protecting the health care and nutritional assistance of the American people,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters Tuesday.

If 218 members sign the discharge petition, it would force a floor vote on a bill that would prevent the House from taking up bills under the party-line reconciliation process that would cut Medicaid or SNAP. Members are generally reluctant to buck party leadership to sign discharge petitions, and GOP leaders have taken steps this Congress to block the process entirely.

Rep. Robert Garcia is starting to make quiet moves towards a bid to lead Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, according to five people granted anonymity to discuss his behind-the-scenes maneuvers.

The Californian has started to round up support from other Democrats who are encouraging him to run and is testing the waters by making calls to other colleagues, the people said.

Both privately and publicly, Garcia is showing deference to Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who announced last week he will step aside as top Oversight Democrat due to a battle with cancer.

“Right now there’s like no election, and so I think those of us on the Oversight Committee are just focused on Gerry’s health,” Garcia told reporters Tuesday. “We just wish him the very best.”

Still, many Democrats are eyeing the high-profile post after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Monday she would forgo a bid. That decision is likely to open up the field for a host of other ambitious young Democrats — including Garcia, 47.

Connolly has yet to formally step aside, so no election has been scheduled. He designated Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts as the interim top Democrat; Lynch said last week he intends to seek the job permanently.

Any contest is expected to be hotly contested, and lawmakers have made preliminary moves to lock down support. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) has already started to privately maneuver for the job, and Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) could also be in the mix. Frost and Garcia are close, and some Democrats believe the two would not run against each other.

“At this point I feel like half the committee is wanting to run for the seat,” said Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), who served on the Oversight panel last Congress. She stood up in House Democrats’ closed-door caucus meeting Monday to say “we need to be utilizing all of our talent in the caucus” by elevating younger lawmakers, she said.

Another Democrat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss caucus dynamics, said he was “really excited” to support Garcia should he choose to run. That Democrat said he had supported Connolly for the Oversight position last year.

Garcia currently serves in Democratic leadership, holding a position reserved for lawmakers who have served fewer than five terms in Congress. Should he mount an Oversight run, he could draw the backing of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Only one CHC member, Rep. Nydia Velazquez of New York, holds a committee leadership position.

Should Democrats take control of the House in the 2026 midterms, the Oversight chair would have broad jurisdiction to investigate the Trump administration and a central role in the party’s accountability efforts over the executive branch. For now, the ranking member is a key foil to Oversight Republicans’ continued efforts to investigate former President Joe Biden’s administration.

GOP Sen. Thom Tillis said Tuesday he has told the White House he will oppose Ed Martin’s nomination to be the top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia, a potentially fatal blow to his already dicey confirmation chances.

Tillis spoke to reporters after meeting with Martin on Monday night. The North Carolinian, who is seeking reelection next year, had previously signaled he had concerns with Martin’s nomination as U.S. attorney because of his previous comments related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack and his work defending those who took part in the riot.

“I have no tolerance for anybody that entered the building on Jan. 6, and that’s probably where most of the friction was,” Tillis said Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters after Tillis’ comments that Martin is now unlikely to emerge from the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Martin is now serving as acting U.S. attorney for D.C. — an appointment that expires May 20. President Donald Trump is lobbying hard for Martin’s confirmation, posting about it on Truth Social Monday: “Ed is coming up on the deadline for Voting and, if approved, HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN.”

Tillis is a member of the Judiciary Committee, and his opposition means the panel would likely deadlock on Martin’s nomination, 11-11, with several other Judiciary Republicans still uncommitted. Senate Republicans could try to advance him out of committee without a recommendation, but Martin would face bigger headaches on the floor: GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, John Curtis of Utah and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky are viewed as votes to watch.

Tillis said he did not expect Martin to come up in the Senate Judiciary Committee for a vote. Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) did not respond to questions about Martin’s nomination Tuesday.