House Speaker Johnson Cancels Thursday Votes, Signals Early Recess Ahead of Midterms

Republican Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Wednesday that he would cancel all votes scheduled for Thursday, sending House members home a day early ahead of the midterm election recess. The decision means the chamber will not consider Thomas Massie’s resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a move that had been slated for a vote earlier in the week. The cancellation follows a flurry of activity on artificial‑intelligence legislation, as lawmakers weigh the timing of additional proposals.

The speaker’s directive effectively pauses the House’s agenda on both the impeachment measure and the AI bills, giving members time to prepare for the upcoming election cycle. By postponing the vote, Johnson has avoided a potentially contentious debate that could have drawn significant media attention during a period of heightened political activity.

With the Thursday session cancelled, House members will resume work on the regular schedule after the recess, while the impeachment resolution remains on the back burner. The pause is expected to give lawmakers more flexibility as the midterm election approaches, but it also delays any immediate action on the defense secretary’s conduct.