Former members of the U.S. House of Representatives have raised alarms about the chamber's dysfunction, citing low productivity, high retirements, and deepening polarization as Congress ends the year. They attribute these issues to long-standing problems like centralized power, a demanding calendar, and threats against lawmakers. Despite the challenges, some insist the institution remains vital and worth reforming.
As the U.S. House wraps up a year marked by minimal legislative output and the longest government shutdown in history, a chorus of former lawmakers has described the institution as barely functional. "Congress is in a coma. It has a pulse, but not many brainwaves," said Jim Cooper, a Democrat who represented Tennessee for 32 years until 2023.
A record number of representatives are retiring ahead of next year's midterm elections, driven by frustration over stalled progress and low morale. Barbara Comstock, a former Virginia Republican and now president of the Association of Former Members of Congress, pointed to studies showing departures stem from dysfunction, death threats, and inaction. She contrasted today's gridlock with the 1990s, when even amid the Clinton impeachment, bipartisan deals on welfare and tax reform advanced.
Critics highlight power centralization in party leadership, which sidelines committees and rank-and-file members. Dan Lipinski, an Illinois Democrat who served until 2021, noted that speakers now dictate bill contents, limiting legislative opportunities. Fred Upton, a Michigan Republican from 1987 to 2023, lamented the top-down approach that reduces bipartisanship.
The congressional schedule, shortened by Newt Gingrich in 1995 to three days a week for district and fundraising time, exacerbates isolation. Jim McDermott, a Washington Democrat until 2017, said it eroded personal connections needed for compromise. Partisanship has intensified, with threats surging—U.S. Capitol Police expect 14,000 cases this year. Cheri Bustos, an Illinois Democrat until 2023, described shifting from open offices to secure ones due to safety concerns.
Unadjusted salaries at $174,000 since 2009 and family strains from travel further deter talent, per Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania. Yet Patrick McHenry, a North Carolina Republican until 2025, urged persistence, calling Congress a "beast" to improve daily. Others decry ceding power to the executive on issues like tariffs, but emphasize the need for patriots to run and restore purpose.
