Four Major Actions by Congress in 2025 — What They Mean for You

WASHINGTON — In the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, a Republican-controlled Congress moved aggressively on taxes, spending, regulations and Senate rules. Lawmakers enacted a sweeping tax-and-spending package, used a fast-track process to roll back dozens of federal rules, and adopted procedural changes that sped confirmations and expanded majority power — all against a backdrop of bitter intraparty fights and a record 43-day government shutdown last fall.

1. Trump-Era Tax Cuts Made Permanent

Republican leaders prioritized extending the 2017 Trump tax cuts, which were scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. The party-line package — described by the president as the "big, beautiful bill" — cleared both chambers and was signed into law on July 4. The legislation includes provisions highlighted by the White House, such as a deduction and tax breaks aimed at tipped workers, a deduction targeted at seniors, and new tax-advantaged "Trump Accounts" for newborns.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects the package will reduce federal revenues by about $4.5 trillion over the next decade. While the cuts affect taxpayers across income levels, Democratic critics argue that the largest share of the benefits flows to higher-income households.

2. Large Spending Increases, Including Defense and Immigration

The bill paired tax changes with major spending decisions. It provides a roughly $150 billion infusion for the Pentagon; combined with about $900 billion approved under the annual National Defense Authorization Act, this pushes total U.S. defense spending above $1 trillion for the first time. Lawmakers also authorized more than $170 billion for immigration enforcement to fund additional ICE hires, expanded raids and broader deportation efforts that align with the administration’s priorities.

Democrats warned the package also includes approximately $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts intended to reduce deficits and trims to clean energy investments enacted in 2022, raising concerns about impacts on low-income families and climate programs.

3. Record Use of the Congressional Review Act to Repeal Regulations

Republicans made aggressive use of the 1996 Congressional Review Act (CRA) to quickly nullify federal regulations adopted during the prior administration. In 2025, Congress enacted 22 CRA resolutions that the president signed, according to the American Action Forum — more than the roughly 20 rules repealed via CRA in the law’s entire prior history.

CRA resolutions are exempt from the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold, limiting Democrats’ ability to block the effort. The repealed rules spanned consumer protection, education, energy and cybersecurity, among other areas.

4. Senate Rule Changes to Speed Confirmations and Expand Majority Power

Senate Republicans used rule changes to reduce the minority’s ability to slow business. In September they invoked a form of the "nuclear option" to permit presidential executive-branch nominations to be confirmed "en bloc," allowing one vote to confirm many nominees at once. That month, the Senate confirmed a package of 48 nominees and later approved an additional 97 before adjourning for the year.

The majority also stretched what can be accomplished with a simple 51-vote threshold, including adopting a new budget baseline that assigns a $0 score to $3.4 trillion in party-line tax cuts and pushing past the chamber parliamentarian’s conventional guidance on CRA limits. Nevertheless, the 60-vote threshold remains in place for most other legislation, and GOP leaders have so far resisted calls to eliminate the remaining filibuster protections.

Bottom Line: The 2025 congressional session reshaped fiscal policy, regulatory oversight and Senate operating norms in ways that will affect families, businesses and federal agencies nationwide.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.