Something important is happening in Washington that many political observers did not expect to see this early in President Donald Trump's second term.

For the first time since Republicans regained unified control of Washington, significant numbers of Republican senators and House members are openly pushing back against the White House, not on personality but on power.

The issues vary: the proposed anti-weaponization fund, funding for a White House ballroom, and questions surrounding congressional authority over military action involving Iran. Yet the common thread is unmistakable: Republicans are beginning to reassert Congress as a coequal branch of government rather than merely an extension of the presidency.

Many Democrats will interpret this as evidence that Trump is losing control of the Republican Party. That would be an oversimplification.

The reality is more nuanced.

For nearly a decade, Trump has transformed the Republican Party from a traditional conservative coalition into a movement centered on his leadership, instincts and political brand. That transformation delivered victories few Republicans thought possible. He remade the federal judiciary, reshaped trade policy, strengthened border enforcement and redefined the party's relationship with working-class voters.

But even the strongest political movements eventually encounter institutional limits.

The Founders designed the American system to prevent power from becoming concentrated in any single branch or individual. Congress was never intended to be a ceremonial body. The House and Senate were expected to challenge........

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