JD Rackey

Happy to share my first @brookings.edu FixGov piece was published today. I take stock of the Senate confirmation process at the 200-day mark of the Trump administration. Among the key findings is the unprecedented degree to which Trump’s nominees have faced procedural barriers.

Congratulations to the Senate for passing Legislative branch appropriations bill (along with veterans affairs and agriculture) w/o including the House's awful cuts in funding for the GAO + Library of Congress and for protecting GAO's impoundment authority. @heinrich.senate.gov @murray.senate.gov

I just posted a new paper on @ssrn.bsky.social, titled "The Chadha Presidency". Here's the link, and I'll post the abstract in the next post. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

Such a huge win for Congress!! LegiDex not only helps improve work efficiency for congressional staff but it also means Congress no longer needs to pay outside vendors for access to its own data in usable formats!

cha.house.gov/2025/7/subco...

They wanted to ‘fix Congress.’ They still do, modernizers say - Roll Call Despite losing a key Democratic champion to retirement, modernization advocates say the work isn’t done in the 119th Congress.

Behind the scenes, congressional modernization is still happening this Congress! Good piece by @justinjpapp.bsky.social rollcall.com/2025/07/07/t...

To be consistent (though in the minority) I also would not consider Booker’s speech a filibuster.

But even if we were to follow Greg’s definition, does the magic minute count? Is “strategic gain” limited to the underlying bill/policy or external political gain? If the former, then no. If the latter, maybe.

This is why I tend to prefer definitions that differentiate between a filibuster (extended debate in the senate) and dilatory obstruction (objecting to UC, filing many amendments, magic minute, etc.). If we collapse all of it onto “filibuster” we lose leverage over the particular Senate phenomena.

GAO is targeted by House Republicans in new spending bill The Legislative Branch appropriations subcommittee aims to cut Congress’ own budget by $51 million.

I'm reading GAO targeted by House Republicans, by @ktullymcmanus.bsky.social

What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?

Term limits are all bad. They have a dozen deleterious effects on government and zero good ones. They achieve none of the goals their proponents say they do. No one should ever advocate for term limits.

Congressional agencies look for boost amid government downsizing - Roll Call Legislative branch agencies are generally asking for funding hikes during an era when the White House is slashing spending.

Even in a time of downsizing, Congress should be upscaling.

rollcall.com/2025/06/02/c...

I’m all for fiscal responsibility but let’s be real about this. Congress routinely cuts its own legs out from under itself for messaging purposes by needlessly tightening its belt.

When we talk about needing to increase funding for leg branch to boost its capacity this is the scale we are talking about. Many critical leg branch organizations have budgets smaller/not much beyond that of a parade.

FY24 allocates (not messing w/ FY25 CR math):
-$20.6m to pay House interns
-$38.7m for Sergent at Arms
-$14.6m for House Leg Counsel
-$136m for CRS
-$70m for CBO

A leg branch budget perspective on the proposed budget of the military parade, 🧵

The U.S. GAO and Inspectors General have issued 19,000+ unaddressed recommendations to address federal waste, fraud, and abuse. But #oversight hearings and expert testimony have long been in decline.

@jdrackey.bsky.social explores how Congress can restore its oversight role ➡️ bit.ly/4j8ISU8

✔️ Maine does not use a nonpartisan primary system.

🔎 @jdrackey.bsky.social, Michael Thorning, and Joshua Ferrer analyzed over two decades of election data to explore how primary election formats impact voter participation and representation.

Learn more. bit.ly/3ShH9kA

It sounds counterintuitive but Congress should invest in itself *more* if it wants to better oversee, control, and even downsize executive branch agencies. Good reporting by Justin Papp & @jimsaksa.com

🔎 Nonpartisan watchdogs across the federal government issue hundreds of reports and recommendations annually to combat waste, fraud and abuse.

But data suggests these recommendations aren't effectively entering the policymaking process. NEW by @jdrackey.bsky.social👇

bit.ly/4j8ISU8

If Congress wants to get serious about government efficiency it needs to rebuild its committees & make a greater effort to listen to its support entities! 4/4

bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/congres...

There is also reason to believe those hearings are less focused on IDing waste, fraud, & abuse as Congress has decreased how much it’s listening to federal watchdogs, mainly GAO and OIGs. 3/4

The story is one of a lack of information processing power as a result of a decline in committee work. Congress is holding fewer oversight hearings than it has in decades! 2/4

A lot has been said about DOGE, its operations, and the efficiencies it may (or may not) be unlocking.

In my new piece for @bipartisanpolicy.org , I take a step back to consider why policymakers thought we needed DOGE in the first place. 🧵1/4

The Missing Branch In an era of intense constitutional combat, Congress is nowhere to be found.

Another great piece by Yuval Levin: “Congress’s weakness is our deepest constitutional problem…”

www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

What is the Role of the Senate Parliamentarian? | Bipartisan Policy Center Learn about the vital role of the Senate Parliamentarian, the history of the office, how it guides Senate procedure, its influence on budget reconciliation,…

As Congress heads into reconciliation season there will be, as always, a lot of attention on the Senate Parliamentarian. The process can be a little opaque so @michaelthorning.bsky.social & I put together this brief explainer on some of the common FAQs about the Office of the Senate Parliamentarian:

Outside groups call on Congress to buck the trend and invest in itself  - Roll Call Congress should get “strategic” about funding its Article 1 duties, some advocates tell lawmakers, even as cuts are in vogue.

A good write up on yesterday’s hearing. Congress can do better, but it needs more resources to do so.

Legislative Branch - Public Witness Day

Hearing video and written testimony will be available here: appropriations.house.gov/schedule/hea...

I’m testifying in front of the House Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee at 11am! I’ll be discussing why Congress needs to invest more in itself if it wants to live up to its constitutional responsibilities & constituent expectations.

Please join us! Very excited for this convo!

Legislating After Loper: Practical Solutions for a Post-Chevron Congress | Bipartisan Policy Center BPC’s Working Group on Congress, Courts, and Administrative Law examines how Congress can respond to recent Supreme Court rulings on administrative law. Key recommendations…

SCOTUS has ended Chevron deference, reshaping how Congress and federal agencies interact. How can Congress respond and reclaim its constitutional responsibilities?

Our new report dives into what Congress can do after the end of the Chevron. Read it in full: bipartisanpolicy.org/report/final...