House Lawmakers Are Going Home Early

Lawmakers in the House are cutting out early for campaign season—and leaving a politically awkward impeachment vote behind. GOP leaders scrapped Thursday's voting schedule, sending members home Wednesday night for the final stretch before the November midterms and pushing action on Republican Rep. Thomas Massie's bid to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth until after Election Day, NBC News reports

Massie had forced the issue by filing his impeachment resolution as "privileged," which would have required a vote this week. Instead, Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the move as "a publicity stunt by someone who wants attention," vowed it would be quickly killed when the House returns Nov. 9, and defended Hegseth's handling of the six-month war with Iran. Massie, a frequent antagonist of GOP leaders and President Trump on Iran policy, accuses Hegseth of being a continuing "threat to the Constitution" and unfit for office. "And there it is. Just as I predicted. They're canceling Congress tomorrow to avoid the vote on IMPEACHING" Hegseth, Massie said on X.

Johnson, under pressure to protect a narrow majority, said it was time for Republicans to hit the campaign trail. "The House has done its work," he said, per the Hill. "It's time for our members to go home to their districts and make their case to the American people, to go and explain all of the great things we've done." The Senate, meanwhile, will remain in session for the next three weeks, reports NBC.