Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the notion that the House took a “vacation” during the recent 43-day government shutdown, jokingly stating, “we haven’t had a day off in two years.”
For the initial 42 days following the shutdown, the House of Representatives was neither in session nor involved in legislation. Instead, members were engaged in a “district engagement period,” which allowed them to connect directly with voters in their areas.
In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Johnson emphasized that just because House members haven’t been physically present in the Capitol, it doesn’t imply they aren’t fulfilling their responsibilities. “It’s not a vacation,” he explained. These past couple of years have been demanding, with a lot of work pushed above the usual clock hours.
The Speaker expressed his optimism about the House and Senate collaborating to push through a spending bill, especially with a deadline looming on January 31, 2026, to prevent another shutdown.
He added that overcoming challenges in appropriations has been quite tough, but the members are ready to move forward. Johnson, emphasizing commitment, shared that he hasn’t had a day off in the last two years, and even without daily voting, there’s still a lot of work being done.
Moreover, he noted that the House often accommodates times for members to engage deeply with their communities as part of their regular schedule. This somewhat structured engagement is integral, giving lawmakers a chance to hear directly from constituents about their concerns and issues, especially during such a tumultuous time as a government shutdown.
There were calls, specifically from more than 20 House Democrats, to have the House remain in session during the shutdown. Critics pointed out that Johnson was not addressing important issues, including requests for transparency regarding files linked to notorious figures like Jeffrey Epstein, spotlighting the tension surrounding legislative priorities.
