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This year produced a seemingly endless array of history-making events and nearly constant change to immigration policy, tariffs, the Education Department, and federal health care programs.

President Donald Trump came back into office emboldened by a decisive 2024 election victory and empowered by Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress. The unified GOP government enacted a major tax cut and domestic spending law in July, but it hit a roadblock in late September when the federal government shut down for a record-breaking six weeks.

provides a look back at some of the biggest news stories from Washington D.C.

January

The U.S. House began the year Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson as speaker and pushing through a series of GOP-favored bills focused on and .

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., officially took over the role from Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the legislative filibuster, the 60-vote procedural hurdle that requires at least some bipartisanship for major legislation to advance. Meanwhile, several committees began for Trump鈥檚 nominees.

Just days ahead of his second inauguration, Trump in the New York hush money case for paying off an adult film star in the lead-up to the 2016 election.

Trump, who moved indoors , marked the first day of his second term by signing a series of executive orders addressing , as well as . He also 1,500 people who were convicted of various crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Just before the end of the month, the first bill approved by the Republican-controlled Congress, the Laken Riley Act. And he announced plans on Canada, Mexico, and China, the start of one of his signature economic policies.

February

Lawsuits against Trump鈥檚 actions within weeks as Democratic attorneys general, immigrant rights organizations, and civil liberties groups accused the administration of overstepping its authority.

Trump and other administration officials sought to reduce the size and scope of the federal government by and calling on the heads of all federal agencies by mid-March. He also judges.

Republicans in Congress the several complicated steps of that would eventually lead to the 鈥渂ig, beautiful bill.鈥�

March

Trump鈥檚 efforts to dismantle the Department of Education began advancing shortly after Linda McMahon as secretary. In one of her first acts leading the department, she that its 鈥渇inal mission鈥� would be 鈥渢o send education back to the states and empower all parents to choose an excellent education for their children.鈥�

Trump later in the month directing McMahon to 鈥渢ake all necessary steps to facilitate the closure鈥� of the Education Department, though much of .

Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts defending the judicial branch against criticism from Trump.

The Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee to look into the use of the Signal messaging app by high-ranking officials to discuss an imminent bombing in Yemen. A journalist at The Atlantic was inadvertently added to the chat and later about the experience.

April

The Trump administration admitted in court filings that Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Maryland to a notorious megaprison in El Salvador.

The Supreme Court became more involved in the national debate about Trump鈥檚 policies toward immigrants, that the administration didn鈥檛 need to bring Abrego Garcia back before officials must 鈥渇acilitate鈥� his return to the United States.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, sitting alongside Trump in the Oval Office, later said Abrego Garcia back.

Separately, Trump鈥檚 tariff policies were . Republicans in Congress for their 鈥渂ig, beautiful bill鈥� and later different parts of that package .

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he would on environmental factors. And Trump addressing education policy.

May

The Supreme Court ruled that a ban on transgender people serving in the military while the case continued at a lower level, that the Trump administration when it tried to deport some Venezuelans under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, that the administration could for 350,000 Venezuelans, and that the Trump administration could for 500,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who had been granted temporary protected status.

Republicans in a 1,116-page package that combined 11 bills into what would eventually become the 鈥渂ig, beautiful bill,鈥� sending the measure to the Senate.

Former President Joe Biden 鈥渁 more aggressive form鈥� of prostate cancer.

June

Trump , from 25% to 50%, saying during a trip to a U.S. Steel plant in Pennsylvania that he would increase them even further if he thought it would be necessary to 鈥渟ecure the steel industry in the United States.鈥� The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office later in the month that his tariff policies would reduce the country鈥檚 deficit but likely slow the economy.

Immigration continued to be a central part of the news cycle with Abrego Garcia to the U.S., California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla while attempting to ask Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem a question during a press conference in Los Angeles and the Supreme Court on lower courts issuing nationwide injunctions.

Trump said the U.S. military had before calling for peace.

July

The Senate , much reworked version of the 鈥渂ig, beautiful bill,鈥� sending it back to the House, which to clear the sweeping tax and health care package for Trump, who on the Fourth of July.

The legislation included several policy goals for the GOP, including on Medicaid, , and . The Congressional Budget Office the law will increase the federal deficit by $3.394 trillion during the next decade and lead 10 million people to lose access to health insurance.

The Supreme Court the Trump administration could continue with its plans for mass layoffs and downsizing at the Education Department.

Trump was , a 鈥渂enign and common鈥� condition for people over the age of 70, according to U.S. Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, the president鈥檚 physician.

Senators from that Department of Agriculture officials didn鈥檛 consult with Congress before proposing to move thousands of jobs out of the Washington D.C. area.

Trump announced a deal with European Union leaders that would result in on most goods coming into the U.S. from those 27 countries.

August

Trump started off the month by on goods brought into the U.S. from about three dozen countries, though he raised that amount for several nations, including 18% on products from Nicaragua, 30% on imports from South Africa, and 50% on goods from Brazil.

A New York State appeals court the $465 million civil penalty against Trump in the case where he was found liable for financial fraud for inflating the worth of some of his real estate holdings was excessive.

Republican and Democratic state legislatures, urged on by the president and members of Congress, sought to begin the November 2026 midterm elections early by to give their party a baked-in advantage.

Federal Reserve governor after he attempted to fire her, arguing in court documents his actions were an 鈥渦nprecedented and illegal attempt鈥� that would erode the board鈥檚 independence.

September

A federal appeals court ruled that for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll.

The in Southern California as a lawsuit over the issue continued through the federal courts.

Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez that she was fired from that role after less than a month because she refused to preapprove vaccine recommendations.

Trump and several other high-ranking Republicans for conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, who was during an event at Utah Valley University.

Kirk鈥檚 death was one of several instances of political violence this year that also included the of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, the of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and the in Atlanta.

A group of , the immensely popular social media app, avoiding the need for it to go offline in the United States.

October

Congress failed to approve the dozen full-year government funding bills before the start of the new fiscal year, leaving an opening for . Democrats tried to bring attention to health care costs and other issues throughout the weekslong debacle.

The funding stalemate impacted nearly every corner of the federal government, including like air traffic controllers, for lower-income families, , and .

The highlighted some Americans' discontent with Trump and Republican policies, a little more than a year before the 2026 midterm elections will measure that frustration at the ballot box.

Trump to make way for the construction of a ballroom that will be nearly double the size of the 55,000-square-foot residence and workplace.

November

The after Senate Majority Leader Thune a vote on a health care bill of their choosing before the end of the year.

The funding bill included three full-year funding bills but a stopgap for the rest of the government, setting up the possibility of a partial government shutdown beginning in February if lawmakers don鈥檛 broker a deal before then.

The final days of the shutdown included over whether they needed to pay full benefits for the 42 million people enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

The in the case that will determine whether Trump overstepped when he instituted tariffs using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Separately, to continue issuing male or female passports based on a person鈥檚 assigned sex at birth.

Congress to release the Epstein files.

A from West Virginia who were just blocks from the White House. U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, as a result of her injuries.

December

The man charged with shooting the two National Guard members and was denied bond in the case, which was later as prosecutors contemplated whether to seek the death penalty.

The Trump administration , raising concerns about the shooter, an Afghan national who worked alongside allied troops and was granted asylum in the United States.

Separately, the FBI charged a 30-year-old Virginia man outside the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee offices ahead of the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

A federal judge ordered immigration officials .

The House and Senate were unable to come up with a bipartisan agreement to avoid for the 22 million Americans enrolled in the Affordable Care Act marketplace who have benefited from an enhanced tax credit created during the coronavirus pandemic to make coverage less expensive. But early in the new year to extend the subsidies for three more years.

The Department of Justice linked to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before announcing officials had that will be published in the coming weeks.

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