House Lawmakers Head Home Early After Tense Week on Capitol Hill

After just seven days in session after summer recess, House lawmakers are once again heading home early this week and won’t be back until November – and lawmakers from both sides aren’t happy.

Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) cancelled two weeks of session in September, and after a tension-filled week in Congress, he decided to cut this week short, too.

“This House has been the second most productive in terms of legislation in the history of the institution since 1789,” Rep. Johnson told reporters Wednesday night. “We passed over 900 pieces of legislation. Right now, about 700 of those bills are sitting in the Senate awaiting action.”

Rep. Johnson has cancelled 63 of the 121 scheduled days of session for this year.

Why Were Votes Cancelled?

Although Rep. Johnson said “the House has done its work,” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-TX) alleges Rep. Johnson cut the September session short because he presented the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, co-sponsored by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), under a privileged resolution. This means the House would have to vote on it within two days of it being presented.

On Wednesday, Rep. Massie took to the House floor for an hour advocating for a few final signatures he needed on a discharge petition to force a vote on the bill, which would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release the remaining Epstein files.

“Mr. Speaker, it's been a year since the president signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and the government continues to withhold over three million files,” Massie said on the House floor.

Rep. Massie also surprised lawmakers from both sides of the aisle by moving to introduce impeachment articles against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Tuesday. He said he intentionally kept this plan under wraps because he anticipated Rep. Johnson would cancel votes.

“And there it is. Just as I predicted,” Rep. Massie said on X. “They’re canceling Congress tomorrow to avoid the vote on IMPEACHING @SecWar.”

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) backed the Kentucky Republican’s claims against Rep. Johnson.

“MAGA Mike canceled votes and sent the House home early — to avoid impeaching failed reality star Pete Hegseth,” Rep. Crockett said on X. “Costs are up. Work is unfinished. And Republicans? Headed home to campaign on their failed policies.”

Bipartisan Frustration

Regardless of why Rep. Johnson cancelled and cut the House session short, many lawmakers are frustrated by the timing. With new AI threats this week, many are pushing to stay in Washington, D.C., to pass regulatory legislation.

“We need commonsense guardrails that protect Americans, empower workers and small businesses, and ensure AI remains secure, transparent and trustworthy,” Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) told reporters on Thursday.

Reps. Lawler and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) also announced that the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus will be launching an AI working group. Rep. Lawler said its efforts to present bipartisan legislation on AI will continue through the recess.

“We’re always ready to work, and we’re going to keep working during these next few weeks,” Rep. Lawler said. “The work is going to continue even though we’re going to be in our districts…We’re not off. We’re constantly working.”