Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed on Wednesday that the House of Representatives will conclude its legislative session earlier than planned, sending members to their home districts for the final seven-week campaign stretch before the upcoming midterms. While the chamber was initially scheduled to remain in session through Thursday, lawmakers will now depart following a final vote on a priority Russia sanctions package on Wednesday evening. The House is not expected to reconvene until after the November elections.
This early departure effectively stalls an impending floor vote on the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Republican Representative Thomas Massie had initiated a high-stakes legislative challenge by introducing a 34-page resolution seeking Hegseth’s removal. Massie’s move triggered special procedural requirements that forced leadership to place the measure on the floor agenda, creating a sudden conflict for GOP officials.
Defending the decision to leave Washington, Johnson framed the move as a standard shift to campaign activity, telling reporters, “It’s time for our members to go home to their districts and make the case to the American people.” He dismissed suggestions that the schedule change was a strategic maneuver to shield members from a politically charged impeachment vote. Johnson further labeled Massie’s push as a “publicity stunt” intended to generate attention, adding, “We should not be playing games with national security.” He confirmed the resolution would be tabled, though likely not until lawmakers return to the Capitol in November.
In his formal resolution, Massie accused Hegseth of significant executive overreach, specifically citing the Secretary’s leadership during the ongoing US conflict with Iran. The filing alleges that Hegseth authorized unlawful military actions and maintained troop deployments without obtaining necessary congressional authorization. Massie, who spent several hours reading his findings on the floor, contended that Hegseth remains a threat to the Constitution and has acted in ways incompatible with his official responsibilities.
The impeachment bid extends beyond the Iran campaign. Massie also leveled accusations regarding the capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, characterizing the operation as the “kidnapping of a sovereign foreign leader.” He further alleged that the Pentagon orchestrated the capture under the guise of narcotics enforcement to manipulate control over Venezuelan oil reserves.
The White House has moved quickly to reject these claims. During a press briefing in the Rose Garden on Tuesday, Attorney General Todd Blanche offered a strong defense of the Defense Secretary, asserting that Hegseth “follows the law” in all his operations. Blanche stated that the Department of Justice works closely with the Defense Department to ensure full compliance with legal standards, concluding, “Secretary Hegseth is doing a phenomenal job.”
Before this week’s developments, House Republicans were already navigating a difficult legislative environment marked by internal anxiety over the midterm election climate. The party has faced mounting pressure to address complex policy areas including artificial intelligence regulation and international tariffs, leaving members in a tense mood even before the surprise introduction of the impeachment resolution. The report also notes that in his 34-page resolution, Massie argued that Hegseth has repeatedly abused the powers of his office in leading the US war with Iran, including carrying out unlawful orders and continuing to keep troops deployed without.
