President Donald Trump has returned to office and is governing energetically, but Congress is not keeping up. While Trump quickly signs executive orders, only a small number have become permanent laws, raising concerns about Congress's effectiveness.
1. Trump's Executive Actions:
• Since his re-election, Trump has signed numerous executive orders and proclamations, totaling 217 executive orders, 54 memoranda, and 110 proclamations as of November 25, 2025.
• However, Congress has only made 28 of these actions permanent.
2. Legislation Achievements:
• The laws passed through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act focused on:
• Energy and land-use reforms
• Cost-efficiency and reduction of bureaucracy
• Immigration and border security
• These reflect part of Trump’s broader agenda but are a minority of his initiatives.
3. Significant Orders Not Codified:
• Several important executive orders, like withdrawing from the WHO and implementing a digital asset framework, have not been made law.
• The lack of codification means new administrations can easily reverse Trump's actions.
4. Congressional Inactivity:
• Many Senate-confirmable positions remain unfilled, with only 265 out of 1,300 positions confirmed, leading to delays in governance.
• There are 289 positions still without nominees.
5. Judicial Appointments Delays:
• Judicial nominees, including federal district court positions, are also waiting for Senate action, which hinders the legal system's functionality.
6. Historical Context:
• This delay in nominations is not unique to Trump’s presidency, as previous administrations faced similar bottlenecks.
• The average time for confirmations has increased significantly.
7. Congress's Role:
• The current structure allows Congress to excessively slow down the executive branch, which might be detrimental to effective governance.
• Critics argue Congress prioritizes personal interests over legislative responsibilities.
8. Perception of Congress:
• Congress is often seen as performing poorly, with members having high salaries and benefits while achieving little substantive legislation.
• Public discontent focuses on the presidency, yet accountability should also be directed at Congress.
The current situation reflects a disconnect between an active presidency and a sluggish Congress. While Trump attempts to implement significant policies swiftly, Congress struggles to keep pace, with many appointments and legislation moving at a snail’s pace. This dynamic raises questions about accountability and effectiveness in government, suggesting a need for public scrutiny of Congressional performance rather than solely the actions of the president.
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