Congress Heads Home After Just Seven Workdays, Won’t Return Until After Midterms
The House of Representatives is leaving Washington for an extended campaign break after working just seven days since returning from its summer recess, with lawmakers not scheduled to reconvene until after the November midterm elections.
House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Wednesday that votes originally planned for Thursday were being canceled, allowing representatives to return to their districts one day earlier than expected. The House is now scheduled to reconvene Nov. 9, six days after Election Day.
The early departure comes as lawmakers face several contentious issues that will now be pushed beyond the election. Among them is Republican Rep. Thomas Massie’s effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the administration’s handling of the war with Iran.
Massie introduced a privileged impeachment resolution Tuesday that would normally require the House to address the matter within two legislative days. Johnson has called the effort a “publicity stunt” and said the House will deal with the resolution when lawmakers return.
Massie accused Republican leadership of deliberately ending the session early to avoid the impeachment vote. He also said the departure could make it more difficult to secure the 218 signatures needed for a separate discharge petition involving Jeffrey Epstein records. Those claims reflect Massie’s interpretation of leadership’s decision; Johnson has not said the schedule change was made for those reasons.
The House is also leaving without acting on a push from more than 100 Democrats seeking congressional action on potential risks posed by increasingly powerful artificial intelligence systems. Debate over federal AI safeguards has intensified as researchers, technology executives and lawmakers consider how the government should respond to rapidly advancing technology.
Before departing, lawmakers are considering nearly two dozen measures under an expedited procedure requiring two-thirds support. The House is also taking up legislation tightening sanctions against Russia and Iran named in honor of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Republican leaders needed Democratic Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington and Jared Golden of Maine to help approve the procedural rule governing debate on the sanctions measure. Such bipartisan support for House rules is uncommon and comes as Republicans operate with a narrow majority.
The departure also follows a significant House vote over presidential war powers. Seven Republicans joined Democrats Tuesday to approve a resolution directing President Donald Trump to end U.S. hostilities with Iran unless Congress specifically authorizes continued military action.
When representatives return Nov. 9, voters will already have determined which party will control the House and Senate beginning in January. The lame-duck session will leave lawmakers facing several unresolved disputes that were postponed as members returned home for the final weeks of campaigning.