'They're Cancelling Congress': Mike Johnson Pulls House Out as Hegseth Impeachment Vote Looms

House Speaker Mike Johnson ended the House's scheduled week early on Wednesday, 16 September, sending lawmakers home just as Republican Rep. Thomas Massie was seeking action on his impeachment resolution against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The timing triggered a clash between the two Republicans, with Massie accusing House leadership of walking away from unfinished business while Johnson dismissed his impeachment effort as a 'publicity stunt'.

'We're Calling Off Congress?'

Massie took to the House floor for more than an hour after Johnson announced that Thursday's planned votes would be cancelled.

'We're calling off Congress? And we're in the majority?' the Kentucky Republican asked, challenging the decision to end the House's work early.

He also questioned why lawmakers would give up scheduled working days when major issues remained unresolved.

'Why would we be cancelling days when the country is burning?' Massie said. 'We should stay here for every day that's on the calendar, and we should debate.'

The timing came one day after Massie introduced an eight-article resolution seeking Hegseth's impeachment. He had kept the plan from Republican leaders before introducing it, according to reports.

Why Thursday Mattered

Massie's resolution was introduced as a privileged measure, giving it a fast-track route to the House floor and requiring action within two legislative days.

With Thursday's session cancelled, the House would not consider the resolution before lawmakers left Washington for the lengthy pre-election recess. The House is expected to return after the 3 November midterm elections.

That means consideration of the Hegseth impeachment resolution has been delayed until after the election, unless the House changes its schedule.

Massie's eight articles accuse Hegseth of, among other things, conducting military operations in Iran without congressional approval and violating provisions of the 1973 War Powers Resolution. The resolution also contains allegations concerning other military actions and the use of Pentagon authority. These are allegations made by Massie, not established findings against Hegseth.

Johnson Calls It a 'Publicity Stunt'

Johnson rejected the suggestion that the shortened schedule was designed to prevent a vote on Hegseth.

Instead, he said the House had completed its work and that members needed to return to their districts ahead of the midterm elections. He also dismissed Massie's impeachment push as a 'publicity stunt' and defended Hegseth's record at the Pentagon.

Johnson said the House would deal with Massie's resolution when lawmakers return.

Massie, meanwhile, argued that the House should use the days on its calendar to address unresolved issues. The disagreement over the schedule has left the impeachment resolution pending until lawmakers return.

Massie's Other Fight

The early recess also affects another battle Massie has been pursuing: his effort to obtain additional records connected to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

Massie has argued that leaving Washington makes it harder to build support for his separate congressional effort, adding another unresolved issue to his confrontation with House leadership.

The dispute comes after repeated reductions to the House's scheduled working calendar. AP reported that the chamber has lost 24 legislative days this year after 28 cancellations and four additions. Johnson, however, has pointed to legislation passed by the Republican-led House and described the current Congress as highly productive.

The Fight Now Moves to November

For Massie, the immediate consequence is that his Pete Hegseth impeachment resolution will not receive a House-floor vote before the midterm elections.

For Johnson, the early recess is a scheduling decision he says reflects the House's completed workload and the approaching elections.

What happens next will have to wait until lawmakers return.

The House has left Washington, Massie's impeachment effort remains pending, and the Johnson-Massie dispute will continue when the House returns.