House Speaker Mike Johnson sent lawmakers home earlier than scheduled Wednesday, beginning the House’s election recess while several high-profile issues — including an impeachment effort against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and legislation involving the Jeffrey Epstein investigation — remained unresolved.
Johnson defended the decision to adjourn, arguing that House Republicans had completed an extensive legislative agenda and could now return to their districts ahead of the November midterm elections. “The House has done its job,” Johnson said. Lawmakers were placed on 48-hour notice to return to Washington if necessary.
But Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., strongly objected to ending the session early, using an extended House floor speech to criticize Johnson and Republican leadership for leaving several matters without votes. Massie had introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth over the defense secretary’s role in U.S. military operations involving Iran, Venezuela, Yemen and suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean.
That impeachment resolution will not receive a vote before lawmakers leave Washington. Massie also criticized leadership for not moving forward with his bipartisan effort to force the release of additional records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“We’re calling off Congress? And we’re in the majority?” Massie said from the House floor, arguing that lawmakers should remain in Washington to debate unresolved issues. Johnson dismissed Massie’s impeachment push as “a stunt” and defended Hegseth’s performance leading the Pentagon. The early departure follows a session in which House voting days have repeatedly been canceled or rescheduled.
According to an Associated Press tally, 28 scheduled House days have been eliminated this year while four additional days were added, producing a net reduction of 24 legislative days — roughly one-quarter of the originally scheduled total. Johnson, however, pointed to the volume of legislation approved by the Republican-controlled House and has described the current Congress as among the most productive in decades.
Before leaving Washington Wednesday, the House completed several major votes, including passage of a broad sanctions package targeting Russia over its war in Ukraine. Lawmakers also approved legislation addressing the growing electricity demands associated with large data centers.
The chamber also recently approved a War Powers Resolution directing President Donald Trump to end U.S. participation in hostilities with Iran unless Congress authorizes continued military action. Seven Republicans joined Democrats in passing that measure 220-204. Massie has been among the most outspoken Republican critics of the Iran conflict and has argued that Congress must assert its constitutional authority over decisions involving war.
His confrontation with Johnson comes during Massie’s final months in Congress.
The Kentucky Republican lost his primary election after Trump backed an effort to defeat him. Since then, Massie has continued pursuing measures that put him at odds with the administration and Republican leadership, including the Hegseth impeachment resolution and efforts related to the Epstein investigation. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also criticized the decision to recess, arguing that Congress had not sufficiently addressed affordability and other domestic concerns.
Johnson rejected those criticisms, pointing to legislation passed during the current Congress and saying Republicans were leaving Washington confident in their record. The House is now expected to remain away from Washington through the final stretch of the midterm campaign unless Johnson recalls lawmakers under the 48-hour notice arrangement.
