House investigations of the Trump administration and the prospect of impeachment are crowding out hopes for legislative progress on Capitol Hill, creating a poisonous atmosphere that makes it all but impossible for the White House and Democrats to work together.

Senators in both parties didn’t expect much legislation to move this year, but they still reacted with dismay to the latest blowup between President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE and Democrats, saying it jeopardizes efforts to find common ground on even basic issues of governance.

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Trump surprised Democratic leaders Wednesday when he turned a meeting that was supposed to be about finding ways to pay for a major infrastructure package into a stern three-minute speech on how the House investigations make it impossible to pass legislation.

“It was a monologue by the president, who wheeled around and walked out,” said Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinFeinstein 'surprised and taken aback' by suggestion she's not up for Supreme Court fight Grand jury charges no officers in Breonna Taylor death Democrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court MORE (Ill.), who described the scene in the room, and said Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Senate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' MORE (N.Y.) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiHoyer: House should vote on COVID-19 aid — with or without a bipartisan deal Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at Supreme Court McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE (D-Calif.) didn’t have a chance to say anything in response.

Many congressional Democrats have said this year they can walk and chew gum — meaning conducting oversight while moving agenda items. Trump made it clear Wednesday he’s not on board with that plan.

Legislative activity often slows in the second half of an election year, but it surprised lawmakers that the political posturing has gotten so intense in the off year.

“There are some things to be done that need to be done,” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSenate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report The Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot MORE (R-S.C.) said.

Graham added that Democratic investigations in the House have “gone way overboard” but warned his fellow Republicans, “the answer for us is not to give up on governing.”

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Trump’s brief speech appeared to have been set off by Pelosi’s accusation earlier Wednesday that he was guilty of a “cover-up.”

“I don’t do cover-ups,” Trump said.

“I think a lot of it is Pelosi’s caucus. I think she’s under so much pressure there,” said Senate Republican Whip John Thune John Randolph ThuneOvernight Defense: Stopgap spending measure awaits Senate vote | Trump nominates former Nunes aide for intelligence community watchdog | Trump extends ban on racial discrimination training to contractors, military Remote work poses state tax challenges Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot MORE (S.D.), who speculated she attacked Trump to appease House liberals who are pressing for impeachment. “That’s blowing things up. Around here, that’s kind of like dropping the nuclear bomb, to come out and accuse somebody of committing a crime and not having anything to back it up.”

But Sen. Doug Jones (Ala.), a centrist Democrat who faces a tough election next year, said he hopes tensions between the White House and the House will subside.

“Hopefully that will settle down. People are doing oversight,” he said. “As long as it’s oversight, no one should threaten to hold up anything when you do your constitutional duty of oversight.”

The prospect of a grand bargain on infrastructure, one of the few issues Trump and Democratic leaders saw as a promising opportunity for bipartisanship after the 2016 election, now appears all but dead.

And an agreement on setting spending caps for fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021 and raising the debt ceiling beyond the next election now faces fresh uncertainty.

Legislation to address the immigration crisis at the border, implement the USMCA trade deal — which would replace NAFTA — and fix the 2017 tax-reform law also appear stuck.

The prospect of the legislative process shutting down only five months into the 116th Congress is alarming lawmakers in both parties.

It’s a striking difference compared to 1998 and 1999, when then-President Clinton still worked with GOP leaders on legislation, even after they impeached him.

Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said, “I voted for the articles of impeachment. That was on a Friday. On the following Thursday Clinton called me about some inconsequential bill, wanted to know if we could move it along. Never mentioned the impeachment trial.”

“We went on about our business,” Lott added.

Graham urged Trump via Twitter on Wednesday not to abandon infrastructure, immigration and prescription drug reform.

“My advice to the President is to try to find solutions to problems like infrastructure, prescription drugs, and a broken immigration system,” Graham tweeted. “See if we can do two things at once — fight with each other and find common ground.”

But after Wednesday’s setback, lawmakers say the prospect of passing an infrastructure bill before next year’s election is slim.

Congress is likely to focus instead on moving a reauthorization of the Highway Trust Fund later this year.

Asked about reaching a broader infrastructure deal, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyThe Hill's 12:30 Report: Ginsburg lies in repose Top GOP senators say Hunter Biden's work 'cast a shadow' over Obama Ukraine policy Read: Senate GOP's controversial Biden report MORE (R-Iowa) said, “I don’t know how you can fund it.”

The Senate has spent almost all its time in recent weeks cranking through Trump’s executive branch and judicial nominees. The chamber has held only one legislative vote in May: a failed attempt to override Trump’s veto of a resolution directing the removal of U.S. troops from the civil war in Yemen.

Before that May 2 vote, the last time the Senate voted on legislation was April 1, when lawmakers voted to reject two competing disaster relief proposals.

“We have completed almost 25 percent of the time allotted to this current Congress, and what have we done? Other than nominations, which are important …. We have done nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada,” Sen. John Kennedy John Neely KennedyMORE (R-La.) said on the Senate floor Wednesday.

Other Senate GOP lawmakers say Pelosi and other Democrats seem more interested in investigating the president than passing bills that can actually get his signature to become law.

“Democrats in the House haven’t proved they want to legislate on anything yet,” said Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.).

But Democrats counter that Pelosi has passed many bills that are languishing in the Senate: a package of campaign fundraising, ethics and election reform provisions known as H.R. 1; expanded background checks for gun sales; the Paycheck Fairness Act; and a net neutrality bill.

Sen. Jon Tester Jonathan (Jon) TesterDemocrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court Pence seeks to boost Daines in critical Montana Senate race This World Suicide Prevention Day, let's recommit to protecting the lives of our veterans MORE (D-Mont.) noted that Trump’s threat comes at a time when the Senate is hardly bringing any bills to the floor.

“McConnell isn’t doing any legislative activity, so what’s the threat?” he said, referring to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellFEC flags McConnell campaign over suspected accounting errors Poll: 59 percent think president elected in November should name next Supreme Court justice Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' MORE (R-Ky.). “McConnell ain’t doing shit on the floor so we’re not going to do legislative activity.”

“We got a bigger problem that sits in an office over there,” he said, while walking through the Ohio Clock Corridor near McConnell’s office, which has control over the Senate schedule.