Congressman Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat, is one of nearly 40 lawmakers leaving Congress at the end of this term. 

"I deeply respect some of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, but it's harder and harder to work with them," Blumenauer told CBS News. "The unending chaos in the House really takes up most of the oxygen."

"The dysfunction in the House is part of the reason why I've decided to leave," said GOP Rep. Ken Buck, of Colorado. "People are lying a lot. And when you call out the lies, you're the bad guy. I feel like I can do more outside of Congress than inside of Congress."

"I'm at that point of my life, age-wise and career-wise, where if I have one more chapter, I want to go explore it," 61-year-old Maryland Rep. John Sarbanes, a Democrat, told CBS News by phone ahead of a busy week in the House. Sarbanes has announced his ninth term in the House will be his final one.    

Retirements of Veteran Lawmakers Shake Up Congress

As the year progresses, Congress finds itself stuck in a cycle of stalemates, showdowns, and acrimony. The recent ousting of a House speaker adds to the turbulence. Now, a wave of incumbent lawmakers has announced their retirement, leaving Capitol Hill careers behind.

Many House members and staffers express concern over the large number of retirements. Among those retiring are veteran lawmakers who have been considered workhorses of Congress by their peers.

One such retiree is Rep. Anna Eshoo, a California Democrat who has served in the House for 32 years. Throughout her congressional career, Eshoo sponsored over 60 pieces of legislation that became law. In an interview from her office study in California, Eshoo emphasized that her retirement does not stem from running away or fleeing Congress. Rather, she believes it is simply time to retire. However, she does express worry about the state of the House of Representatives and the country as a whole.

Other notable retirees include Rep. Kay Granger, a Texas Republican who chairs the powerful House Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Derek Kilmer, a Democrat from Washington. Kilmer, who represents the Seattle area, recently played a key role in developing a plan and report aimed at modernizing Congress and strengthening the House.

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Rep. Brad Wenstrup is an Ohio Republican who chairs a panel investigating the COVID-19 pandemic, and he's also a military veteran who helped respond and care for a House colleague wounded in a 2017 shooting spree in Virginia.

The list of departing lawmakers also includes centrist senators who have a history of bridging gaps and providing pivotal votes, including Sen. Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican, and Sen. Joe Manchin, Democrat of West Virginia.

The sheer numbers threaten to bleed Congress of some its institutional memory and the relationships that helped forge deals and bipartisan legislation.

The Congressional Management Foundation, a nonprofit which provides consulting for congressional offices, said experience is already dwindling in Congress. Foundation president Brad Fitch told CBS News, "At the start of this Congress in 2023 about half of the House of Representatives had four years or less of experience in their jobs."

"Experience matters, whether we talking about football coaches, neurosurgeons or members of Congress," Fitch said. "One of the reasons why Congress is having difficulty fulfilling it's basic responsibilities to the American public is because many of them are still learning how to do their jobs."

The retirees also include those seeking higher or different offices, including Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Virginia Democrat and centrist dealmaker who turned a red district to blue in Virginia in 2018. Spanberger has announced she's running for governor of her state in 2025.

West Virginia GOP Rep. Alex Mooney is stepping down from his position in the House of Representatives. Mooney, who won his seat in a highly contested primary just a year ago, is now seeking the Republican nomination for the West Virginia Senate seat that will be vacated by Joe Manchin.

Mooney's departure may be just the beginning. Other lawmakers, such as Blumenauer and Eshoo, have expressed their concerns about the current state of Congress and the departure of their Republican colleagues. Blumenauer has even hinted that he may not seek reelection due to the lack of bipartisan cooperation.

Eshoo's departure has had a significant impact on the Democratic party. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised Eshoo's three decades of service and her dedication to representing her district and the country.

The current political climate, including the aftermath of the January 6th assault on the Capitol, has contributed to the toxic atmosphere in Congress. Lawmakers like Buck have expressed frustration with the lies and misinformation being spread about the election and the events of January 6th.

These retirements could potentially affect each party's chances of winning a majority in the House. Spanberger's seat, in particular, is expected to be a key target for Republicans in the upcoming elections.

In his retirement announcement, a representative from Michigan expressed optimism on behalf of his party. He said he is confident a Democrat will win his seat in the Flint area next year.

Retirement has fueled speculation that he might consider a third-party run for the White House, endangering the reelection prospects of President Biden. Speaking earlier this month, he expressed frustration with partisanship in Congress.

"I've come to the conclusion we're not going to fix it here in Washington," he said. "We're losing that middle. We're losing the core of how you come to conclusions to pass the bills that we pass."