Photos show the year in politics for 2025

In 2025, President Trump returned to power and instituted change in Washington with executive orders that ranged from immigration crackdowns to sweeping foreign policy proposals to renaming government agencies. 

Although Congressional leaders were able to usher through Mr. Trump’s “One, Big Beautiful Bill,” his budget bill couldn’t get 60 votes to advance in the Senate, leading to a 43-day government shutdown, the longest in history.

Billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, took aim at the federal workforce. USAID was effectively dissolved into the State Department, while thousands of Health and Human Services employees were laid off. 

Activist Charlie Kirk was shot to death while speaking at Utah Valley University in September, roiling the conservative movement. His wife, Erika Kirk, gave an emotional eulogy at his memorial service where she proclaimed she forgave his killer. 

Washington was gripped by the controversy surrounding the release of the Justice Department’s files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

Mr. Trump also made his physical mark on Washington, holding a military parade to honor the Army’s 250 birthday, demolishing much of the White House’s East Wing for a 9,000-square foot ballroom, and adding his name to the Institute of Peace and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Here are some of the most powerful images of the year from politics:

January 

The first month of 2025 was marked by the Inauguration of President Trump to begin his second term, and a farewell to former President Jimmy Carter, who died at the age of 100.

February 

March

In March, the Trump administration invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport more than 230 men, mostly Venezuelans accused of being gang members, to a notorious Salvadoran prison known as CECOT.  CBS News was first to obtain and publish the list of the deportees. Using that list, “60 Minutes” and CBS News found that many of the deportees did not have any apparent criminal record, in the U.S. or abroad, despite the administration’s allegations. In July, they were returned to Venezuela as part of a prisoner swap. 

Also in March, The Atlantic posted screenshots of texts from a Signal group chat that nadvertently included a journalist as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other top national security officials discussed plans for an attack on Houthis in Yemen.

April 

May

June

July 

August 

With the 2026 midterm elections looming, Mr. Trump said he wanted Texas Republicans to redraw the state’s Congressional map to net up to five seats for the GOP. After Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session, state Democrats instead fled the state, denying the GOP majority a quorum. Although they ultimately returned, the effort garnered national attention, prompting California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to put forward a ballot measure to redraw the state’s districts to net up to five seats for Democrats. 

September 

October

The longest government shutdown in modern U.S. history began on Oct. 1 after Democrats and Republicans failed to come to an agreement to extend government funding. It ended 43 days later after a deal finally passed and was signed by President Trump.

November

Democrats swept the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey. In New York City, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo tried to mount a comeback bid in the mayoral race but was defeated by 34-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani. In California, Proposition 50, the measure put forward by Gov. Newsom to redraw the state’s congressional districts, passed with over 60% of the vote. 

December 

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