Move Over Biden, Congress' Approval Rating is Just 13%: The Kiplinger Letter
A recent Gallup poll shows Congress' approval rating at 13%, the lowest since 2017.

To help you understand what's going on in Congress and what we expect to happen in the future, our highly experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of the latest developments and forecasts (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). You'll get all the latest news first by subscribing, but we will publish many (but not all) of the forecasts a few days afterward online. Here’s the latest…
If you think President Biden’s job approval is low — now averaging 41% — he’s got nothing on Congress, with its approval rating of only 13%, the legislative body’s lowest since 2017, according to a recent Gallup poll.
Members of Congress don’t seem to like each other much, either. A recent uptick of bad behavior on Capitol Hill offers some evidence. For example, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) accused ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) of elbowing him in the hallway — more fallout from the nasty Republican vs Republican intraparty fight that ousted McCarthy. Likewise, name-calling and vulgar words are now more common.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
When they aren’t at each other’s throats, members of Congress are trying to fight witnesses in committee hearings and even setting off false fire alarms. Lawmakers have also filed an extraordinary number of censure motions: 18, two of which succeeded. Censure motions are historically rare. In fact, the House did not censure anyone between 2011 and 2020. But increasingly, lawmakers view them as a tool for punishing members of the other party, justified or not.
The holiday break will help bring down the temperature a bit. But cooler heads will still struggle to prevail when Congress returns.
This forecast first appeared in The Kiplinger Letter, which has been running since 1923 and is a collection of concise weekly forecasts on business and economic trends, as well as what to expect from Washington, to help you understand what’s coming up to make the most of your investments and your money. Subscribe to The Kiplinger Letter.
Related Content
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
Sean Lengell covers Congress and government policy for The Kiplinger Letter. Before joining Kiplinger in January 2017 he served as a congressional reporter for eight years with the Washington Examiner and the Washington Times. He previously covered local news for the Tampa (Fla.) Tribune. A native of northern Illinois who spent much of his youth in St. Petersburg, Fla., he holds a bachelor's degree in English from Marquette University.
-
Retiring With a Pension? Four Things to Know
The road to a secure retirement is slightly more intricate for people with pensions. Here are four key issues to consider to make the most out of yours.
By Joe F. Schmitz Jr., CFP®, ChFC® Published
-
How to Teach Your Kids About the Tax Facts of Life
Taxes are unavoidable, so it's important to teach children what to expect. Also, does your child need to file a tax return for 2024? Find out here.
By Neale Godfrey, Financial Literacy Expert Published
-
What DOGE is Doing Now
The Kiplinger Letter As Musk's DOGE pursues its ambitious agenda, uncertainty and legal challenges are mounting — causing frustration for Trump.
By Matthew Housiaux Published
-
A Move Away From Free Trade
The Letter President Trump says long-term gain will be worth short-term pain, but the pain could be significant this year.
By David Payne Published
-
Trump’s Whirlwind Month of Crypto Moves
The Kiplinger Letter The Trump administration wants to strengthen U.S. leadership in the cryptocurrency industry by providing regulatory clarity.
By Rodrigo Sermeño Published
-
Trump's Foreign Policy Overhaul
The Kiplinger Letter Trump’s return as president sees the commander in chief aiming to complete the shift to an “America first” policy that started in his first term.
By Matthew Housiaux Published
-
AMT and Pass-Throughs Add Complex Layers to 2025 SALT Tax Planning
The Tax Letter The state and local tax (SALT) deduction is a key sticking point in President Trump's tax plan.
By Joy Taylor Published
-
Donald Trump Tests His Limits
The Kiplinger Letter President Encounters Legal Obstacles in Pursuit of Ambitious Agenda.
By Matthew Housiaux Published
-
Six Hurdles for Trump's Tax Bill
The Tax Letter While the odds for a new tax bill in 2025 are quite good, there are some sticking points that President Trump and Congress will have to work through.
By Joy Taylor Published
-
What Could Derail the Economy This Year?
The Letter While the outlook for the U.S. economy is mostly favorable, there are plenty of risks that bear watching.
By David Payne Published