House Speaker Johnson Cancels Votes, Sends Lawmakers Home Early

House Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly canceled the final scheduled voting day before a seven-week midterm recess, sending lawmakers home a day early and leaving significant legislative work unfinished. The move, announced Wednesday, means the House will not meet again for regular business until November 9, following the November 3 elections. Johnson told reporters that Thursday's votes were canceled to allow members to return to their districts and campaign. "It's time for our members to go home to their districts and make the case to the American people," he said. The decision immediately delays a potential vote on articles of impeachment introduced against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. Massie's resolution, introduced as a privileged measure that ordinarily requires action within a limited number of legislative days, accuses Hegseth of constitutional violations and misconduct connected to the Iran war and other military operations. Johnson dismissed the effort as a "publicity stunt" and predicted the House would table the resolution upon its return. "It will immediately be tabled, of course," Johnson said.