Florida Governor Calls Congress’s Legislative Output ‘Paltry’ Amid Record Low Bill Sign-offs

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently criticized Congress’s legislative output, labeling its 2025 accomplishments “paltry.”

DeSantis, a Republican, referenced recent data showing that by December 22, the House and Senate had signed fewer than 40 bills, establishing a modern record for low legislative activity in the first year of a new presidency.

DeSantis stated that legislative production should not be measured by the number of bills passed.

“Congress is apt to create more problems through legislation than it solves,” he said.

“That said, the paltry production by the current Congress is noteworthy because so much meat is still left on the bone,” he added.

DeSantis also criticized Congress for failing to do its job of protecting the Constitution.

“Madison wrote in The Federalist that in republican systems of government, the legislative authority ‘necessarily predominates,'” he said.

“But that presumed that each branch would zealously guard its authority against encroachments by the other two,” DeSantis added.

“The modern Congress has failed to guard against encroachments, but it has also intentionally subcontracted out its core functions to the bureaucracy,” he continued.

In a Wall Street Journal editorial Sunday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., described the legislative session as “one of the most productive first years of any Congress in our lifetimes,” noting lawmakers passed 441 bills, voted to codify 70 of President Donald Trump’s executive orders, and repealed 23 regulations enacted by President Joe Biden.

“Even with the slimmest of congressional majorities and historic obstruction from Democrats, President Trump and Republicans have kept our promises, restored order, and laid the groundwork for an extraordinary new year — from containing the border crisis and stabilizing inflation to securing historic tax, trade and peace deals,” Johnson wrote.

“Congress is content to be a mere observer of the constitutional system rather than a player inside of it,” he said.

By Sam Barron | Monday, December 29, 2025