House Republican leaders are contemplating the possibility of leaving town without holding votes scheduled for next week if government shutdowns persist, according to sources.
This potential action, which remains unconfirmed, appears aimed at pressuring Senate Democrats to support a “clean” GOP plan to prevent a shutdown, allowing the government to remain operational for an additional seven weeks. Democrats, however, have rejected this bill, citing demands for expanded healthcare subsidies and other issues.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) alluded to this strategy during a press conference on Friday morning, before readdressing the Senate’s continued resolution (CR).
“The House will reconvene when Chuck Schumer can ensure the government is operational,” Johnson stated.
This marks the second occasion Johnson has postponed a vote to put Senate Democrats in a bind, having canceled votes earlier this week leading up to the shutdown.
However, maintaining a recess for the House diverges from the initial plans discussed at the start of the week. On Wednesday, Johnson raised the possibility of keeping the House session active even if the government remained closed.
“Yet, there’s not much we can do. There are numerous matters to address, but the situation is dire. We need to reopen the government,” Johnson remarked on Wednesday.
House Republicans are expected to convene Saturday morning.
There are additional indications suggesting they may not return home next week. No bills have been announced for consideration on the House floor, nor are any committee hearings scheduled.
Despite the House’s activities this week, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) indicated he would bring the Caucus back next week.
Earlier on Friday, reports emerged stating that the GOP leader was indeed contemplating the cancellation of next week’s vote.
Keeping the House out could be a strategic move to enable GOP leaders to advance bills that delay procedural maneuvers and address documents related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Once the House welcomes Democrat Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), she will represent the 218th signature on a discharge petition aimed at circumventing GOP leadership on the House’s Epstein Files bill, with four other Republicans supporting the petition. Johnson previously declined to swear Grijalva in during a “proforma” session of the House this week.
Republican leaders, along with President Trump, oppose this course of action, as they reference ongoing Epstein investigations within the House and the Government Reform Committee.
Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) are set to hold a press conference on Friday with a woman who has accused Epstein of abuse, planned for the following Wednesday.
