Rep. Bryan Steil Talks Congress Latest, Tariffs & Trump's Fed Pick

Summary

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Podcast Summary — Bloomberg Talks

Episode: Rep. Bryan Steil Talks Congress Latest, Tariffs & Trump's Fed Pick
Date: February 10, 2026
Host: Karen Moskow & Nathan Hager, Bloomberg News
Guest: Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI), Chair, House Administration Committee

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Bloomberg hosts Karen Moskow and Nathan Hager interview Rep. Bryan Steil to discuss the latest debates in Congress, including federal government shutdown threats, ICE reforms, ongoing talks on election security and the MEGA Act, as well as the future of American tariffs, trade policy, and the possibility of 15% GDP growth under Trump's Fed pick, Kevin Warsh.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Looming Government Shutdown & ICE Reforms

• Shutdown Tensions:
  Steil criticizes Democrats for using shutdown threats as leverage, emphasizing essential roles of DHS and calling for a cooler-headed approach.
  Quote:

  "Here we are again, Democrats threatening to shut down and this time a portion of the federal government if they don't get their way. I think what we need to do is have cooler heads prevail."
  — Rep. Steil [01:09]

• Continuing Resolutions:
  While not ideal, Steil supports further continuing resolutions (CRs) over government shutdowns, but stresses the need for a longer CR, giving negotiation space. Quote:

  "I don't love CRs, but boy, they're better than shutting down the government. ... Two weeks is pretty insufficient for Congress to operate."
  — Rep. Steil [02:24]

• Role of Local Jurisdictions:
  Increasing local cooperation with ICE is improving the situation, according to Steil.
  Quote:

  "More and more local jurisdictions [are] cooperating with ICE and that prevents some of the more challenging situations that we've had."
  — Rep. Steil [01:09]

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2. Election Integrity and the MEGA Act

• Purpose of the MEGA Act:
  Steil argues the MEGA (Make Elections Great Again) and SAVE acts create reasonable standards—especially photo ID—for elections, not federalizing them. Quote:

  "I think it's common sense that we should require, for example, photo identification when an individual goes to the polls... So it's common sense, it's popular. This is far from the takeover argument."
  — Rep. Steil [03:35]

• Federal Standards vs. State Control:
  Steil acknowledges state control over elections, but supports baseline federal requirements like photo ID and same-day election results. Quote:

  "I do think it’s appropriate to have a federal standard with which every state must meet at an absolute minimum. ... We should end elections on Election Day so the American public knows the results of elections on the night of the election."
  — Rep. Steil [04:48]

• Evidence from Georgia:
  Points to Georgia’s 2021 election reforms as increasing participation and trust. Quote:

  "High voter participation, increasing confidence. And as that occurs, more and more people are likely to participate, which is a good thing for our democracy."
  — Rep. Steil [04:48]

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3. Tariffs, Trade Policy & Congressional Dynamics

• Tariff Policy Debate:
  With procedural votes delayed and dissent within the GOP, Steil highlights the need for constructive engagement with the president and allies. Quote:

  "We have an opportunity here to work with the president ... to bring those trade barriers down and to give American markets access into foreign markets."
  — Rep. Steil [06:18]

• China and Accountability:
  Asserts China has taken advantage of prior trade arrangements, supports holding them accountable while improving alliances.

• Waiting on SCOTUS:
  Supreme Court's pending decision on executive emergency powers could reshape tariff authority, but Steil favors legislative clarity through trade agreements. Quote:

  "The case before the Supreme Court ... could be, depending on how it's written, transformative as we understand emergency powers. ... But I think what we would like to see is the president continue to work and finalize these trade agreements with our allies to provide real stability."
  — Rep. Steil [07:12]

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4. The Economy, GDP Growth, and Fed Leadership

• Trump’s 15% GDP Growth Claim:
  Responding to Trump’s assertion that new Fed nominee Kevin Warsh could deliver 15% annual GDP growth, Steil calls it aspirational but emphasizes pro-growth policy. Quote:

  "Well, wouldn't we all love to see it? ... The underlying economy in the United States is strong. If we continue to work to remove the burdens ... and we work to empower the American economy, I think we're going to continue to see strong economic growth."
  — Rep. Steil [08:37]

• Growth as Policy Solution:
  Focuses on economic growth as the primary means to address debt and deficit challenges.
  Quote:

  "The biggest answer to get out of this situation is to grow the economy at rates that we haven't seen."
  — Rep. Steil [08:37]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "At an absolute minimum, we should pass a continuing resolution."
  — Steil [01:09]

• "It's putting in baseline standards so that all Americans have confidence our elections are being run accurately and fairly."
  — Steil [03:35]

• "Elections are core principles. They're common sense and they instill confidence in our elections."
  — Steil [04:48]

• "We should end elections on Election Day so the American public knows the results ... on the night of the election."
  — Steil [04:48]

• "For far too long, countries like China have taken advantage of US Trade agreements"
  — Steil [06:18]

• "If we continue to work to remove the burdens ... through high regulations, through taxes, ... I think we're going to continue to see strong economic growth."
  — Steil [08:37]

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Important Timestamps

• Shutdown and ICE reforms: [00:37]–[02:24]
• Election integrity & MEGA Act: [03:01]–[05:38]
• Tariffs & Trade: Procedural and policy debate: [05:38]–[07:57]
• SCOTUS and emergency powers: [06:55]–[07:57]
• 15% GDP growth and Fed pick: [07:57]–[09:25]

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Tone and Takeaways

Representative Steil is measured but assertive, advocating practical, popular reforms and emphasizing cooperation both in domestic policy and international trade. He consistently stresses the importance of confidence—whether in elections or the economy—balancing calls for federal action with respect for state authority. The episode closes on a forward-looking, optimistic note about America's economic potential given the right policy framework.

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Transcript

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[Karen Moskow]

You feel about the likelihood of a shutdown or the progress being made on this ICE reform issue probably depends on who you ask on Capitol Hill, so we're going to ask someone there right now. Joining us, I'm pleased to say, live from the House is Republican Congressman Brian Stile of Wisconsin. He of course, is the chair of the House Administration Committee. Welcome back to Bloomberg TV and Radio, sir. It's good to see you. It's been a while since we've talked. As you just heard Tyler say, it seems that there is still a bit of daylight between Republicans and Democrats on what reforms both can actually get behind. Sir, what would you be willing to accept?

[Congressman Brian Steil]

Kelly, welcome back. Here we are again, Democrats threatening to shut down and this time a portion of the federal government if they don't get their way. I think what we need to do is have cooler heads prevail. The Department of Homeland Security is an essential agency that covers not only ice, but also Coast Guard, TSA and other essential federal government programs. And so the threat of a shutdown is unproductive. At an absolute minimum, we should pass a continuing resolution. And in fact, the House passed complete funding for the entire fiscal year and a bipartisan vote. So at the end of the day, what we need to see is Senate Democrats come to the table to make sure that we can get 60 votes in the Senate, fund this for the full year, allow cooler heads to prevail. And I think what we're seeing is more and more local jurisdictions cooperating with ice and that prevents some of the more challenging situations that we've had.

[Nathan Hager]

Hey, Congressman, there are a lot of questions about the way this goes and the calendar is not a friend at the moment. There was only a two week continuing resolution. So here we are again up against a deadline. If Democrats and Republicans can't come to terms in the next couple of days here, would you support a continuing resolution of that duration again or should it be something longer so we don't have to Keep coming back around on these.

[Congressman Brian Steil]

You know, I don't love cars, but boy, they're better than shutting down the government or a portion of the government. In this case, two weeks is pretty insufficient for Congress to operate. It's too bad that's the case. I'd be open to even a slightly longer cr. But again, this final negotiation is going to take place between about 10 Democrats, the United States Senate with President Trump. It's trusting that they can land this plane. Cooler heads prevail. Getting local jurisdictions to cooperate with ICE and giving that time to reach agreement on this funding deal, I think is what's going to ultimately be required.

[Karen Moskow]

Well, so while the work on a funding agreement happens in the background, Congressman, you of course are doing work of your own, including holding a committee hearing on election integrity today as well, of course, having introduced the Make Elections Great again, the MEGA act around election security. That act, as well as the SAVE act, which of course is a kind of tandem effort going on, Congressman, was criticized by Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski as effectively federalizing elections. Is that what you are intending to do? How do you avoid doing that?

[Congressman Brian Steil]

Article one, Section four gives authority both to the states to operate elections, but also the authority for Congress to make sure that there's clear laws to make sure that we have confidence in our elections. The MEGA Act, a portion of which is the SAVE act, puts forward common sense reforms to reinstate America's trust in our elections. I think it's common sense that we should require, for example, photo identification when an individual goes to the polls. I have to do that. If you want to board an airplane, you want to open a bank account, or heck, you want to buy a six pack of beer, you need to show photo identification. So it's common sense, it's popular. This is far from the takeover argument that some Trump are attempting to make. It's putting in baseline standards so that all Americans have confidence our elections are being run accurately and fairly.

[Nathan Hager]

Do you worry about mission creep here, if I can use that term, Congressman, when you hear President Trump talking about nationalizing elections and taking it out of the hands of the states. In the case of sanctuary cities or states that have sanctuary cities, he says Republicans should run those elections. Isolating about 15 states he thinks need that kind of attention. Does that run again against the conservative principles that you bring to the table?

[Congressman Brian Steil]

Well, I think what it is is putting in baseline standards that are needed to operate our elections. Again, the states are going to be the ones operating the elections. But I do think it's appropriate to have a federal standard with which every state must meet at an absolute minimum. Sixteen states, for example, don't require photo identification when an individual goes to vote. Again, I think all 50 states should require that we should end elections on election day so the American public knows the results of elections on the night of the election. Elections. These are core principles. They're common sense and they instill confidence in our elections. What we saw from the state of Georgia after they implemented election integrity reform in 2021 and they've run two statewide elections, is high voter participation, increasing confidence. And as that occurs, more and more people are likely to participate, which is a good thing for our democracy.

[Karen Moskow]

Well, and as we consider what will be on the minds of the American electorate as they go to vote, Congressman, we know the economy always features quite heavily in the impact fiscal policies and others have on the economy, like, for example, the impact of tariffs that have been levied by the Trump administration. There was supposed to be just a few hours from now a procedural vote, a rule vote on what Speaker Johnson is pushing, essentially extending a prohibition of calling snap votes on repealing the president's tariffs. We now understand that has been postponed to 8:30pm this evening. It seems there's a little bit of trouble in the water here. Congressman, is a few of your colleagues have suggested that they will not be voting with the speaker on this. What are you hearing?

[Congressman Brian Steil]

Well, there's a lot of dialogue, dialogue and discussion as to exactly how we move forward. I think we have an opportunity here to work with the president as we strike trade deals, in particular with our allies, to bring those trade barriers down and to give American markets access into foreign markets. For far too long, countries like China have taken advantage of US Trade agreements in holding countries like China, along with our allies, accountable I think is absolutely essential. We're going to have a lot of dialogue and debate over this over the next handful of hours. But at the end here, I think the goal is to create these trade agreements with our allies. And I think we have an opportunity to do that.

[Nathan Hager]

You know, the Supreme Court at some point is going to rule on this, Congressman. In fact, we thought we, we would possibly even know by now. How would that potentially argue or complement a law passed by Congress when it comes to the veracity of this tariff regime?

[Congressman Brian Steil]

Well, for a number of years beyond just this administration, we have seen executives both at the presidential level as well as governors, use emergency orders to take actions that they would like to take out legislative approval. We saw that all throughout the period of COVID the case before the Supreme Court, I think could be, depending on how it's written, transformative as we understand emergency powers. Many of the tariffs that the president put forward are dependent on those emergency powers. The Supreme Court may rule. But I think in lieu of that, I think what we would like to see is the president continue to work and finalize these trade agreements with our allies to provide real stability in the trade agreements that we need to keep our economy strong and just.

[Karen Moskow]

Finally, Congressman, on the subject of the economy, President Trump suggested in an interview with Fox's Larry Kudlow that the economy could be growing at 15% under the leadership of Kevin Warsh if he is confirmed as Fed chair. Take a listen.

[Congressman Brian Steil]

We should be at 15% if I'll tell you if our new head of the Fed, who I think is going to be great and he's, he's a really high quality person, but if he.

[Nathan Hager]

Does the job that he's capable, we.

[Congressman Brian Steil]

Can grow at 15%.

[Nathan Hager]

Said I think more than that.

[Karen Moskow]

You sit on the Financial Services Committee, Congressman, do you buy 15% GDP growth in the United States of America?

[Congressman Brian Steil]

Well, wouldn't we all love to see it? But I think we got a ton of run room in front of us. The underlying economy in the United States is strong. If we continue to work to remove the burdens that have been put in place through red tape, through high regulations, through taxes, and we work to empower the American economy, I think we're going to continue to see strong economic growth. I think it's great that the President is out there cheering, leading for the country and putting a high bar in front of us. But we should all be working to drive forward economic growth in particular. As we look at a period of time where debt and deficits are significant challenges in front of us, the biggest answer to get out of this situation is to grow the economy at rates that we haven't seen. We've seen strong economic growth over the course of the past few quarters. I think we have an opportunity to continue to build on that success.

[Nathan Hager]

Congressman, it's great to have you back. Thank you for the insight. Thank you as always. Brian Steil of Wisconsin, the Chairman of the House Admin Committee.

[Karen Moskow]

Bloomberg Daybreak is your best way to get informed first thing in the morning, right in your podcast feed. Hi, I'm Karen Moscow.

[Nathan Hager]

And I'm Nathan Hager. Each morning we're up early putting together the latest episode of Bloomberg Daybreak US Edition. It's your daily 15 minute podcast on the latest in global news, politics and international relations.

[Karen Moskow]

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[Nathan Hager]

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