House Speaker Johnson Calls Early Recess, Delaying Impeachment Vote and AI Legislation

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Wednesday that the chamber will adjourn a day early, sending members home before the scheduled midterm election recess. The change pushes Thursday’s agenda forward, meaning a vote on Rep. Thomas Massie’s resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will not be taken before the break. The move also delays consideration of pending legislation aimed at regulating artificial intelligence, which has drawn attention from industry executives and whistleblowers.

Johnson told reporters the schedule adjustment reflects that “the House has done its work” and allows members to return to their districts to meet constituents ahead of the election. He added that the House remains “the second most productive in terms of legislation in the history of the institution since 1789,” a claim previously made at a Republican midterm convention.

Democratic leaders expressed frustration, urging the speaker to keep the chamber in session to address AI oversight. More than 100 House Democrats had signed a letter requesting that the recess be postponed so they could draft safeguards for AI development.

In response to the postponed impeachment resolution, Johnson described it as a “publicity stunt” and said it would be postponed “immediately” because of ongoing international conflicts. A House leadership notice indicated that votes on EPA regulations originally slated for Thursday will be taken on Wednesday afternoon instead.

The early recess is the latest in a series of schedule changes made by Johnson, who previously cut the pre-election session by two weeks. Lawmakers are expected to resume a busy agenda after the November election, including revisiting Massie’s impeachment resolution, which was filed as a privileged measure that would fast-track its consideration.