Another long-running fixture of Washington’s permanent political class is finally heading for the exits. Maryland Democrat Rep. Steny Hoyer, now 86 years old, is expected to announce his retirement from the House as early as Thursday, ending a congressional career that began back in 1981. That is more than four decades of life spent inside the Beltway, and a perfect snapshot of why so many Americans feel disconnected from the people supposedly representing them.
Hoyer was first elected to Congress when Ronald Reagan was president, MTV was brand new, and most Americans still trusted the federal government far more than they should have. Over the years, he climbed the Democratic leadership ladder, eventually becoming the second-ranking House Democrat under former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Together, they helped steer the House through some of the most aggressive expansions of federal power in modern history.
After Democrats lost control of the House in the 2022 midterms, Hoyer stepped aside from his leadership post as House Majority Leader as part of what Democrats described as a changing of the guard. In reality, it was a reshuffling that kept the same ideas in place while promoting younger, more radical members into leadership roles. Hoyer stayed on anyway, reclaiming a senior seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, because in Washington, “stepping aside” rarely means leaving.
Only two sitting House members, Republican Reps. Hal Rogers and Chris Smith, have served longer than Hoyer, and only by a matter of months. That statistic says less about dedication and more about how Congress has turned into a lifetime occupation. These are not citizen lawmakers. These are career politicians.
Hoyer has never been shy about how he views his legacy. After stepping down from leadership in November 2022, he said he was proud of his role over four decades in making the country “more perfect and inclusive” and ensuring workers and families could “Make It In America.” Many Americans, looking at skyrocketing debt, endless foreign entanglements, and a federal government that touches nearly every aspect of daily life, might respectfully disagree.
His retirement follows a familiar pattern. Pelosi, then 85, also stepped down from leadership after the 2022 midterms, declaring it was time for a new generation. Last year, she announced she would not seek reelection at all. What Democrats mean by “new generation,” however, is not moderation or common sense. It usually means younger lawmakers with the same big-government instincts, only louder and more aggressive.
Hoyer’s departure closes a chapter, but it does not signal reform. The machine he helped build is still very much intact. The policies, the priorities, and the ideology remain unchanged. One less nameplate on a Capitol Hill door does not undo decades of damage.
Still, after 40-plus years in Congress, even Washington has to admit when it is time to move on. For voters who believe the country has been on the wrong track for a long time, Hoyer’s retirement will feel less like a loss and more like overdue housekeeping.
Good Bye, Good Riddance.