House Republicans dumping Rep. Liz Cheney from GOP leadership may be a boon for President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats heading into the 2022 midterm elections — but not after.

But should Republicans clinch control of the House and Senate in next year’s elections, as history suggests, the pro-Donald Trump political terrain will be harder for Biden to navigate, despite his campaign promises of unity and brokering bipartisan deals. First-term presidents typically lose one or both chambers, and that likely will bring the process of making laws to a halt, complicating both sides’ ability to do routine tasks like keep the federal government open.