Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Wednesday that House members will leave Washington early for a seven-week campaigning recess ahead of the midterm elections. This decision will postpone a vote on the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. House Republicans had initially planned to remain in session until Thursday but will now conduct their last votes on Wednesday evening regarding a Russia sanctions bill before adjourning. Johnson stated, "It’s time for our members to go home to their districts and make the case to the American people."
House GOP lawmakers were reportedly eager to leave amid political pressure to address contentious issues such as artificial intelligence and tariffs, as concerns grow about their ability to maintain control of the chamber in the upcoming midterms.
Rep. Thomas Massie, a fellow Republican, had announced plans to force a vote to impeach Hegseth due to his handling of the U.S. war with Iran. This resolution carries special procedural powers, which would have required GOP leaders to schedule it for a vote in the near future. However, by adjourning early, Republicans have effectively stalled the impeachment vote until November.
When asked if the early adjournment was intended to protect members from a difficult vote on Hegseth, Johnson denied any connection to the defense secretary. He criticized Massie’s resolution as a publicity stunt, stating, "It will immediately be tabled of course. But we probably won’t do that today, we will do it when we come back. We should not be playing games with national security."
Massie’s 34-page resolution accuses Hegseth of abusing his powers in leading the U.S. war with Iran, including carrying out unlawful orders and maintaining troop deployments without Congressional authorization. Massie claims that Hegseth poses a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office.
Attorney General Todd Blanche defended Hegseth, asserting that he "follows the law" and that the Department of Justice ensures compliance with legal standards.
The impeachment resolution also criticizes Hegseth for the alleged "kidnapping of a sovereign foreign leader" in Venezuela, referring to the capture of Nicolás Maduro, and accuses the Pentagon of acting under the guise of narcotics law enforcement to assert control over Venezuela’s oil reserves.