Congress holds more power over the economy than most realize, yet it rarely takes the blame for the mess. The Federal Reserve gets the heat for inflation, interest rates, and market turmoil, but the truth cuts deeper. Congress writes the laws, funds the agencies, and sets the rules that shape the entire financial system. If there’s corruption and dysfunction, it’s rooted in the halls of Capitol Hill.
In 2025, the disconnect between Congress’s power and accountability grows wider. Lawmakers still approve budgets that inflate debt by trillions. They rubber-stamp policies that undermine economic stability. Meanwhile, the Fed responds by tightening or easing credit, often trapped between political pressures and market realities. Inflation numbers and rate hikes might headline the news, but Congress’s unchecked influence fuels the underlying problems.
Campaign finance remains a glaring issue. According to recent data, billions flow each election cycle through political action committees and dark money groups. These funds open doors to lobbyists who push agendas favoring special interests over voters. When Congress takes money from those who want specific outcomes, laws become tools for private gain instead of public good.
The activist judiciary adds another layer. Judges appointed through political deals often decide on economic policies, regulatory disputes, and constitutional questions that shape market behavior. The legislative, judicial, and executive branches blend power in ways that confuse separation and accountability. The system lacks transparency and breeds distrust.
Congress can change the entire framework of government and finance if it chooses. They can reign in the Fed, reform campaign finance, and stop allowing corruption to dictate policy. Instead, they perpetuate a cycle that fuels economic uncertainty and public frustration.
The solution doesn’t lie with one institution. It’s a collective failure of leadership and accountability. Until Congress cleans house and stops shielding vested interests, economic instability will remain a constant companion.