From March 31 to April 1, 2025, Cory Booker, the senior Democratic Party U.S. senator from New Jersey, delivered the longest recorded speech in United States Senate history while protesting the second presidency of Donald Trump and the operations of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.

Booker began speaking at 7 p.m. EDT on March 31 and concluded at 8:05 p.m. on April 1, 2025. The speech lasted twenty-five hours and five minutes, surpassing the previous longest recorded speech in Senate history: Strom Thurmond's twenty-four-hour and eighteen-minute-long filibuster of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 by 47 minutes.

Background

The United States Senate does not limit debate unless limits have been imposed; in most circumstances, a senator who has been granted permission to speak by the presiding officer of the Senate may speak indefinitely so long as they "remain standing" and "speak more or less continuously." In preparation, Booker had not drunk water since the preceding day to avoid having to stop the speech to use the bathroom. He also fasted for days leading up to the speech. Afterward, Booker said that rather than needing to use the bathroom, he instead felt dehydrated.

Booker's congressional staff prepared content for his speech, including writing talking points and gathering letters from constituents, which totaled over 1,164 pages of material. Booker claimed that they had prepared "ten binders" of content and periodically noted throughout his speech that he was "behind" on the pacing of his speech. Throughout the speech, staffers were seen delivering black binders to Booker's lectern.

Speech

The speech began at 7 p.m. EDT on March 31, 2025, before unrelated deliberations for Matthew Whitaker's nomination to serve as ambassador to NATO. Booker dedicated the beginning of his speech to John Lewis, a civil rights activist and representative who died in 2020, and explained that he took the floor "with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able." He stated that he believed the country was in crisis, saying "In just 71 days, the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans' safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy, and even our aspirations as a people." Booker emphasized his belief in the need to challenge actions he believed undermine democratic institutions and the rule of law.

By midnight, Booker focused on the administration's proposal to cut Social Security and Medicare. He criticized efforts to reduce funding for these programs, highlighting the potential negative impact on millions of Americans who rely on the benefits. Booker then addressed attempts to eliminate the Department of Education, sharing testimonials from educators and students affected by the policies. Turning his attention to immigration enforcement practices, he argued that the administration was undermining public safety and violating constitutional rights, again sharing testimonials of people who were adversely affected.

By 9 a.m., Booker stated that Donald Trump had abandoned America's allies, emboldening its enemies, and made the country less safe. Booker addressed the housing affordability crisis and referred to the vision outlined in Ezra Klein's book Abundance. He criticized the administration's failure to address rent and home prices and provided testimonials of families facing eviction and homelessness due to unaffordable housing. Booker criticized environmental policy rollbacks and the administration's refusal to honor existing USDA contracts, emphasizing the destabilizing effects on rural communities.

A few minutes into the speech, one of Booker's staff directed a Senate page to remove his chair. He read from multiple three-ring binders, including articles from bipartisan sources and letters from his constituents, whom he described as "'terrified people' with 'heartbreaking' stories". Booker invoked Arizona Senator John McCain and his vote to kill the American Health Care Act, a bill that would have partially repealed the Affordable Care Act. He read an account by Jasmine Mooney, a Canadian who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, for thirty minutes of his speech.

Offering an apology from Democrats for the current political climate, Booker stated: "I confess that I've been inadequate. That the Democrats have been responsible for allowing the rise of this demagogue." He emphasized the role of Congress to hold the executive branch accountable, and decried his fellow congress members for failing to vote against the president's cabinet nominees and other policies.

Booker's speech protested the Trump second presidency, including efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, ignore judicial mandates, and deport participants of the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses. He criticized Trump and his advisor Elon Musk for having "shown a complete disregard for the rule of law, the Constitution, and the needs of the American people." Booker also criticized the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Musk. He included a list of executive orders in Trump's second presidency during his speech. He also referenced John Lewis several times in his speech, stating:I don't know what John Lewis would say, but John Lewis would do something. He would say something. What we will have to repent for is not the words and violent actions for bad people, but the appalling silence and inaction of good people. This is our moral moment.

According to David Smith of The Guardian, "As Booker approached the 24-hour mark, most Senate Democrats took their seats and Democrats from the House of Representatives, including minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, sat or stood in the chamber. The public and press galleries swelled." Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer announced to Booker that he had broken the record at 24 hours and 18 minutes into the speech, prompting sustained and significant applause throughout the chamber. Finally, at 8:05 p.m. EDT on April 1, 2025, Booker yielded the floor and was immediately met with a standing ovation.

Chronology While retaining the floor, Booker yielded to questions from 35 of his Democratic colleagues and one Independent colleague, which allowed him to rest. The two senators with the most questions were the Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, and Senator Chris Murphy, a close colleague of Booker's who stayed on the floor with him the entire speech. As they both mention during the speech, Booker played a similar role during the Chris Murphy gun control filibuster in 2016. The table below shows the chronology of the speech, including topics discussed by Booker, as well as questions posed to him by fellow senators. Topics in italics indicate subject divisions and refer to the binders Booker read from.

+ Chronology of Senator Booker's speechQuestionerElapsed timeTime (EDT) Topic00h00m7:00pmSenator Booker takes the floor00h03m7:03pmMotivation for speaking, John Lewis00h22m7:22pmMedicaid, letters01h23m8:23pmMore Medicaid lettersChuck Schumer ()02h00m9:00pmMedicaid cuts02h08m9:08pmMotivation for speakingLisa Blunt Rochester ()02h13m9:13pmHealthcare, Medicaid cuts03h19m10:19pmJohn McCain, health insurance legislative process, compromise, failuresChuck Schumer ()03h40m10:40pmJohn McCain, a rational approach to government and military efficiency03h52m10:52pmEnd of John McCain/government efficiency section03h54m10:54pmHealth infrastructure cutsChris Murphy ()04h41m11:41pmHealthcare, Medicaid cuts05h11m12:11amSocial Security05h53m12:53amLetter about Parkinson's disease, responseAndy Kim ()06h27m1:27amGovernance, Social SecurityChris Murphy ()07h30m2:30amSocial Security, story08h07m3:07amEducation and scientific researchChris Murphy ()09h10m4:10amWar on knowledge09h42m4:42amImmigration09h44m4:44amDeportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia10h03m5:03amDisappearing people, statement by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia10h20m5:20amDetention of Jasmine Mooney by ICEChris Murphy ()10h49m5:49amImmigrationPeter Welch ()11h20m6:20amImmigration, bipartisan cooperation, tariffs on Canada11h52m6:52amBipartisan cooperationDick Durbin ()12h12m7:12amJudiciary committee nominees, presidential defiance of court ordersKirsten Gillibrand ()12h23m7:23amSocial Security, FAA understaffing, drones, mass federal layoffs12h53m7:53amFour letters on national security, mass layoffs, USAID, taunting alliesTina Smith ()13h01m8:01amImmigration, detention of Rümeysa Öztürk, freedom of speechRaphael Warnock ()13h30m8:30amHealthcare accessibilityAmy Klobuchar ()13h52m8:52amTax cuts, prescription drug cost reductions14h22m9:22amThe power of the people, UkraineRon Wyden ()14h31m9:31amTown hall meetingsChris Coons ()14h54m9:54amUSDA halts deliveries to food banks, NATO, DenmarkEd Markey ()15h12m10:12amTax cutsMark Warner ()15h23m10:23amIgnoring security classificationsChuck Schumer ()15h32m10:32amMedicaid cuts, tariffs, congratulationsElizabeth Warren ()15h48m10:48amSocial Security16h01m11:01amNational security, USAIDChris Murphy ()16h21m11:21amUSAID16h24m11:24amHousing availabilityChris Van Hollen ()16h28m11:28amSocial Security, Medicaid, food, tariffs, disappearing peopleAngela Alsobrooks ()16h50m11:50amHousing crisis16h58m11:58amEnvironmental protections17h00m12:00pmNoon prayerTammy Duckworth ()17h02m12:02pmAgriculture, farmersMaggie Hassan ()17h16m12:16pmMedicaid expansion, health insurance, Social SecurityBen Ray Luján ()17h42m12:42pmAgriculture, farmersSheldon Whitehouse ()17h53m12:53pmGreed and corruption in electionsPatty Murray ()18h06m1:06pmVeteransMichael Bennet ()18h30m1:30pmBorrowing, tax cutsJack Reed ()18h45m1:45pmHHS layoffsMaria Cantwell ()18h54m1:54pmMedicaid cutsAlex Padilla ()19h06m2:06pmEnvironment19h14m2:14pmImpassioned statement, Frederick Douglass letterAngus King Jr. ()19h30m2:30pmCourage, veterans (30% of the Federal workforce)Adam Schiff ()19h42m2:42pmAttacks on lawyers, judges, and the press, impeachment trialRichard Blumenthal ()20h02m3:02pmSignalgateJacky Rosen ()20h14m3:14pmTariffs and policies affecting consumer costs, tourism20h20m3:20pmJanuary 6, bridging differencesTammy Duckworth ()20h30m3:30pmFiring veterans20h37m3:37pmJohn McCain - The Pledge of Allegiance and the Hanoi HiltonTammy Duckworth ()20h43m3:43pmJohn McCain, veterans20h49m3:49pmVeteransChris Coons ()20h55m3:55pmRory Badger (US marine fired by USDA), John McCain, honor20h55m3:55pmThe economy21h00m4:00pmWhat speaks to the greatness of our nation? What does the Bible say?Tim Kaine ()21h22m4:22pmSigns of the times, state flags, tyrannyChuck Schumer ()21h41m4:41pmKudos, breaking rules to get tax cuts for the rich by going around the parliamentarian21h48m4:48pmPresident Joe Biden, historian John Meacham, history, the people came throughTammy Baldwin ()22h01m5:01pmHHS firings, tariffsAngela Alsobrooks ()22h18m5:18pmEducational fundingMark E. Kelly ()22h29m5:29pmTariffs, tax cutsMazie Hirono ()23h09m6:09pmFederal mass layoffs23h35m6:35pmThe Constitution: Judge Learned Hand, Margaret Chase Smith. "The Constitution saved my life." Filibuster with Chris Murphy.Chris Murphy ()23h49m6:49pmSolidarity, history, Senator Strom Thurmond filibuster, summation23h58m6:58pmMotivations, John Lewis, historyChuck Schumer ()24h19m7:19pmSchumer congratulates Booker on breaking the record (24h18m), ovation24h21m7:21pmThanks for support, begins closingCatherine Cortez Masto ()24h24m7:24pmEnd of Alzheimer's disease research24h28m7:28pmValues, Alzheimer's, efficiency, corruptionJeanne Shaheen ()24h44m7:44pmUSAID Accomplishments, Atul Gawande24h54m7:54pmClosing25h05m8:05pmSenator Booker yields the floor

Outcome and result