Emanuel Proposes Mandatory Retirement Age of 75 for Public Officials

Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has proposed a mandatory retirement age of 75 for federal officials across all branches of government, igniting fresh debate about age limits in American politics.

“You’re 75 years old: done,” Emanuel declared during a Center for American Progress event on Wednesday. His proposal would apply uniformly to the executive branch—including the president and Cabinet—as well as Congress and the federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court.

Emanuel, 66, acknowledged that such a rule would eventually affect him if he were to run for president in 2028, as he would be 73 at the start of a potential second term. “I know where I am in my age. Of course it would apply to me,” Emanuel told Politico. “You can’t say ‘here’s what I want to do to change Washington’ — but I get an exemption because I bought it beforehand.”

The former Chicago mayor, who previously served as President Obama’s chief of staff and more recently as President Biden’s ambassador to Japan, pointed to existing age restrictions in other sectors. “You can’t serve in the armed forces, you can’t serve in private sector jobs,” Emanuel noted, adding bluntly: “Go work on your golf swing, it’s not that good to begin with.”

Emanuel’s proposal arrives in the wake of a presidential election cycle dominated by concerns about the advanced ages of both major candidates. President Donald Trump, now 79, would be ineligible to continue serving under Emanuel’s proposed rule. Similarly, former President Biden, now 83, would have been prevented from serving his term.

The impact would extend far beyond the presidency. Currently, 17 senators and 45 House members are 75 or older and would be affected by such a standard. On the Supreme Court, Justices Clarence Thomas, 77, and Samuel Alito, 75, would be forced to retire, while Justices Sonia Sotomayor, 71, and Chief Justice John Roberts, 70, are approaching the proposed age threshold.

Emanuel said he would push for legislation rather than a constitutional amendment to establish the age limit, though constitutional scholars would likely question whether such legislation would withstand legal challenges. The proposal may also face significant headwinds in Congress, where the median age for senators is 64.

Age restrictions in politics gained significant attention during the last presidential campaign. Then-candidate Nikki Haley proposed mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over 75 during her bid for the Republican nomination. President Biden ultimately withdrew from the 2024 race amid mounting concerns about his mental acuity and physical stamina.

Emanuel framed the age limit as part of a broader ethics reform package that would include restrictions on lobbying and stock trading by federal officials. He urged Democrats to embrace these reforms as part of their midterm election messaging.

“You have a president of the United States, in my view, that has expanded, deepened the swamp. Our job is to drain the swamp as Democrats,” Emanuel said, criticizing the Trump administration. “There’s not a day that goes by that you don’t read a story about either his family, [Commerce Secretary Howard] Lutnick’s family or [Special Envoy Steve] Witkoff’s family making money.”

The proposal highlights ongoing concerns about gerontocracy in American politics, where leadership positions across government are increasingly held by individuals in their seventies and eighties. Critics argue that this demographic imbalance undermines representative democracy and prevents younger generations from influencing policy decisions that will affect their futures.

Supporters of age limits contend they would ensure cognitive fitness for crucial decision-making positions while creating opportunities for new perspectives in government. Opponents counter that such restrictions would arbitrarily remove experienced public servants and constitute age discrimination.

Emanuel’s proposal is likely to spark renewed debate about the balance between experience and renewal in American democracy as both parties look toward the 2028 presidential election.