Fig.: to face a tough challenge; to be subjected to a particularly harsh scrutiny

Biden's financial plan has to run the gauntlet of the Congress, where the President's party has a very narrow majority

La manovra finanziaria di Biden deve ora passare sotto le forche caudine del Congresso, dove il partito del presidente ha una maggioranza risicata

The citizens recognized that some of their objectives could be reached by administrative action without running the gauntlet of the legislative process

I cittadini capirono che potevano raggiungere alcuni dei loro obiettivi tramite azioni amministrative, senza dover passare sotto le forche caudine di un procedimento legislativo 

In reality, a “gauntlet” is an armored glove worn with a suit of armor and to "throw down the gauntlet" was to challenge someone to a duel.
"Gauntlet" began to be used as a synonym for "gantlet" due to their similar sounds.