Congress Turns to All-Night Voting Sessions Amid Growing Dysfunction

Facing looming fiscal deadlines, Senate leaders have repeatedly used budget-reconciliation—a fast-track process that sidesteps the filibuster—to push funding for immigration enforcement and extend federal surveillance powers. The open-ended amendment stage, known as a “vote-a-rama,” often stretches into the early morning, turning legislative work into overnight marathons.

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Republican Sen. John Kennedy (La.) and Majority Leader John Thune (S.D.) have championed the late-night schedule. Senators Lisa Murkowski (Ala.) and Ron Wyden (Oreg.) have described the physical toll, while Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) have publicly criticized the practice.

Congress keeps holding all-nighters, creating dysfunction after dark

• The latest Senate vote-a-rama began Wednesday night and ended just after 3:30 a.m., lasting over six hours.

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• Murkowski logged “14,291 steps” moving between the chamber and her Capitol “hideaway.”

Congress keeps holding all-nighters, creating dysfunction after dark

• A spending bill passed by voice vote at 2 a.m. was later rejected by a sleeping House, prompting another negotiation round.

Congress keeps holding all-nighters, creating dysfunction after dark

Kennedy warned that “the health of some of our members” suffers when sessions run all night. Cramer (R-ND) said “the dysfunction is getting worse” and called the practice “not a healthy lifestyle” for the country and lawmakers. Thune defended the timing as necessary to meet budget deadlines, while Wyden noted the “heavy lifting” required under reconciliation.

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Democrats argue the all-night tactic erodes transparency. McGovern asked, “Who the hell is running this place?” and decried bills “thrown together on the back of a napkin.” Ogles warned the outcome was “predictable” after leaders ignored earlier warnings, contending the process exhausts members and undermines public trust.

Congress keeps holding all-nighters, creating dysfunction after dark

The marathon sessions have stalled funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, while a surveillance extension was only secured after a 10-day, after-hours compromise. The physical and mental strain on legislators raises concerns about Congress’s long-term ability to govern effectively.

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Sources differ on the exact length of the vote-a-rama—some cite “more than six hours,” others refer to “hours into Thursday.” The total number of amendments filed remains unspecified, leaving a gap in understanding the full scope of the marathon.

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• “Frankly I am worried about the health of some of our members,” Kennedy said as 9 p.m. approached. “Not that they're in bad health, but it’s hard to stay up all night.” — Sen. John Kennedy, R-La.

Congress keeps holding all-nighters, creating dysfunction after dark

• “The dysfunction is getting worse,” — Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-ND.

Congress keeps holding all-nighters, creating dysfunction after dark

• “Who the hell is running this place?” — Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.

Congress keeps holding all-nighters, creating dysfunction after dark

• “I’m at 14,291 steps,” — Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-AK.

Congress keeps holding all-nighters, creating dysfunction after dark

Lawmakers acknowledge the need for “forcing mechanisms” but few propose alternatives. Proposals range from capping amendment counts to mandating daylight votes, yet bipartisan consensus remains elusive. With budget deadlines looming, Congress is likely to continue its overnight cadence unless procedural reforms gain traction.

Congress keeps holding all-nighters, creating dysfunction after dark