Congress Ends 2025 with Record-Low Legislative Output Amid Blame Game
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the 2025 session of Congress draws to a close, lawmakers and political leaders are reflecting on one of the least productive years in recent memory. Only 61 bills were passed into law throughout the entire year, marking a significant downturn in legislative activity. This slow pace has sparked a fierce exchange of blame between Democrats and Republicans, highlighting the deep partisan divisions that continue to stall government progress.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat preparing to run for governor, sharply criticized Congressional Republicans for the lack of bipartisan cooperation that he says has crippled legislative productivity. Speaking on Fox News, Swalwell lamented that “there wasn’t much else being done in this Congress,” attributing the gridlock to a failure to work across party lines. He expressed hope that Republicans would partner with Democrats in the coming year to address pressing economic issues, including reducing costs for American families.
Swalwell also highlighted his own contribution to the limited legislative achievements of 2025, citing a bipartisan bill he authored to ease travel restrictions for breastfeeding mothers. Despite this, he acknowledged the broader failure of Congress to enact meaningful legislation, noting that only 38 bills beyond routine resolutions became law this year. By comparison, during a similarly Republican-controlled Congress in 2015, the House considered 710 measures in the same timeframe, underscoring the stark contrast in activity levels.
Republicans, however, reject the notion that they bear sole responsibility for the legislative logjam. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin accused Democrats of deliberately engineering gridlock, particularly around government spending, to undermine Republican efforts and prolong the recent government shutdown. Johnson referred to the 43-day shutdown standoff earlier this year as a calculated move by Democrats who “don’t want President Trump and Republicans to have success.”
“The American public is pawns in the dysfunction,” Johnson said on CBS’s Sunday Morning program. He argued that Democrats prioritize political power over the economic well-being of the country, willing to let the economy suffer as “collateral damage” to regain control in the 2026 elections.
With lawmakers having adjourned until 2026, the nation faces looming challenges. The government must pass new spending legislation by the end of January to avoid another shutdown, a scenario that could exacerbate economic uncertainty. The Congressional Research Service notes that such shutdowns disrupt federal services and impact millions of Americans.
The legislative stalemate has also drawn attention to the broader consequences for public policy. Health care premiums are set to rise sharply in the new year, a development that experts link to Congressional inaction on healthcare reforms. Meanwhile, bipartisan efforts to address issues like the Affordable Care Act continue quietly in the Senate, but progress remains slow.
Observers point to the widening partisan divide as a fundamental barrier to effective governance. The Government Publishing Office reports that the 119th Congress conducted 362 votes in its first session, a figure far below historical averages for similar periods. This legislative lethargy contrasts sharply with the urgent needs of the American people, from inflation concerns to national security.
As the new year approaches, the pressure mounts on both parties to find common ground. The public and political analysts alike will be watching closely to see if 2026 brings a shift toward cooperation or a continuation of the stalemate that has defined 2025.
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