WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives is heading off to recess, canceling planned votes Thursday after just just seven work days since returning from summer break.
The early exit means GOP leadership will avoid a vote on whether to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and ignore a Democratic push to address the firestorm over artificial intelligence.
“We’re going to modify the House schedule by a day,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) simply told reporters.
Since lawmakers returned from August recess, they were at work just four days before a Labor Day break and only three days this week.
GOP leadership previously scrapped two weeks of session that had been planned for the remainder of September.
The House is not expected to return to Washington until after the November midterms, leaving lawmakers extra time to campaign in their districts.
GOP leadership had a wrench thrown in their plans by libertarian-leaning Rep. Thomas Massie, who rolled out eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Tuesday.
Massie did so without notifying GOP leadership in advance, so they couldn’t cancel session or pull some other move to undermine him.
The Kentuckian introduced the impeachment articles as privileged, which means they need to be voted on within two legislative days.
Canceling Thursday’s session punts the requirement until the House reconvenes in November.
Meanwhile, the Senate is set to remain in session until early October — for now.
