12-year cap on Senate and 6-year limit on House Called for by President Trump

President Trump Calls For Term Limits

The term-limit bomb was just dropped on the D.C. country-club elite, and career politicians are in a state of panic. On February 9, 2026, President Trump made clear that he intends to push for a proposed constitutional amendment that would set a three-term (six-year) cap for House members and a two-term (12-year) cap for senators. This bold move would end the tenures of 73 percent of the current Congress, shaking the foundations of Washington’s permanent incumbency.

Why is President Trump's push for term limits more than just a policy change? It represents a major overhaul of the careerist system that has allowed lobbyists to buy and influence votes for decades. It signals a return to the 1926 spirit of citizen legislators who serve temporarily before returning home to their lives and businesses. This change would bring nearly eight generations of new ideas to Congress, ending the inaction that has plagued American politics in Washington, D.C.

Washington has long been condemned for its entrenched politicians who have stayed in office for decades. The longest-serving current members of Congress include Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) with 50 years of service, followed by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) with 48 years, and several others with 44 years. The problem with such long careers is not just about age or experience; it’s about the concentration of power and detachment from the people they are supposed to be representing.

Career politicians have become nothing more than a part of the Washington “swamp.” When the same political faces dominate Congress for decades, they become predictable and vulnerable to outside influence. This stagnation limits fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to pressing problems.

President Trump’s proposal sets a 12-year hard cap for Senators and a 6-year limit for House members. This means no more than two Senate terms and three House terms. The impact would be dramatic:

     Ø  An immediate 3 percent turnover in the current Congress

     Ø  Removal of 318 House members and 46 Senators who already exceed these limits

     Ø  A shift toward younger, more diverse, and more connected representatives

This proposal is not just about numbers; it’s about restoring the original intent of public service. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen-legislators who served temporarily, then returned home to their personal lives and businesses, requiring them to live under the laws they enacted.

The push for term limits is not new. The Convention of States Action organization began advocating for amendments to set term limits in December 2013, when nearly 100 legislators from 32 states met to discuss calling a convention of states. This movement gained momentum, and the first state, Georgia, passed a resolution in 2014. Historically, the issue was first brought to the forefront in 1926, when the nation began serious debates about the dangers of executive and legislative stagnation. These discussions eventually led to the 22nd Amendment, which limits the U.S. President to two terms.

The 1926 debates recognized that without limits, a republic risks becoming a hereditary monarchy of the well-connected elite. The same principle applies to Congress. President Trump’s term-limit surge is a return to that century-old ideal: public service as a temporary duty, not a lifetime career.

Implementing term limits would bring several concrete benefits:

     Ø  Fresh Ideas and Perspectives: New representatives bring new solutions and challenge outdated policies.

     Ø  Reduced Influence of Lobbyists: Shorter tenures mean less time to build cozy relationships with special interests.

     Ø  Increased Accountability: Politicians who know they must return to their communities are more likely to act in voters’ interests.

     Ø  Greater Diversity: More turnover opens doors for underrepresented groups and younger candidates.

     Ø  Stronger Democracy: A government that reflects the people’s changing needs is healthier and more resilient.

Critics argue that term limits remove valuable institutional knowledge and expertise. While experience matters, it should not come at the cost of stagnation and corruption. Moreover, institutional knowledge can be preserved through professional staff and bipartisan cooperation without locking in the same politicians indefinitely. The goal is to balance experience with renewal.

If President Trump's term-limit proposal were implemented, Congress would undergo a historic transformation. A significant number of current members would be replaced, ushering in a new era of citizen legislators. This change could restore public trust and loosen the grip of special interests.

President Trump's term-limit revolution offers a chance to reclaim democracy from career politicians and return to the founding principle that public service is a temporary responsibility. It is a bold step toward a government that truly represents the people and adapts to their needs.

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