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2d ago

GOP Trifecta Ends 2025 With Meager Lawmaking as Executive Actions Surge

Concentrating priorities in one reconciliation bill shifted power to executive actions.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune at a news conference on October 1 on the Upper West Terrace of U.S. Capitol Building.
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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks with reporters in the U.S. Capitol during the last votes of the year on Dec. 18, 2025.
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Overview

  • Congress enacted 61 laws in 2025, including 22 disapprovals of Biden-era rules, while the House logged just 362 votes, a 21st‑century low.
  • The year’s agenda was largely funneled into the “One Big Beautiful Act” reconciliation package, crowding out most other legislation.
  • House dysfunction featured extended recesses, a 43‑day shutdown standoff and rank‑and‑file challenges to Speaker Mike Johnson through discharge petitions.
  • The Senate under Majority Leader John Thune focused on confirming Trump nominees as the White House leaned on unilateral moves, with Trump issuing roughly 225 executive orders this year.
  • Analysts now see Democrats favored to retake the House in 2026 as Republicans seek to hold a slimmer Senate edge, while AP reports highlight lawsuits over DOJ demands for detailed state voter data and related election‑administration concerns.