Congress just published the 2025 schedule. Out of 365 calendar days, the chambers are set to meet on 133. That is roughly one out of every three days. The rest is labeled for travel, district visits, or recess. The Capitol floor will stay mostly quiet.
July is limited to twelve working days. August is entirely off. Zero sessions planned. This comes as deadlines for budget reconciliation, defense reauthorization, and appropriations stack up. The federal government will be staffed at half-strength during critical weeks.
The House calendar confirms that 27 of the 52 weeks hold three or fewer session days. There are sequences with just one gavel scheduled. The Senate follows a near identical rhythm. Fly-in Mondays with no votes. Fly-out Thursdays by midday. Committee work continues behind the scenes but actual floor action slows to a crawl.
This pattern has gotten worse over the last three cycles. In 2023, Congress worked 139 days. In 2024, it dropped to 135. Now it is 133. Meanwhile, legislation has stacked up. Immigration policy remains frozen. Infrastructure negotiations are stuck. The debt ceiling may return by the fourth quarter. FAA authority is due to lapse. But the chamber will be on break for more than half the year.
Everyday workers do not get these luxuries. The average full-time employee clocks around 240 workdays annually. That includes short weeks, holidays, and paid time off. Most Americans work through emergencies. Elected officials step out for them.
Sources
https://rollcall.com/app/uploads/2024/12/2025CQRCCongressionalCalendar120624.pdf
https://pressgallery.house.gov/schedules/2025-house-calendar