Speaker Mike Johnson Cancels Late September House Votes

House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled House votes for the final two weeks of September, leaving only four days of legislative business before the November 3 midterm elections. The decision reverses statements Johnson made earlier in the week, where he asserted that Republicans intended to work through the entire month of September.

The schedule change follows the House's successful passage of government funding through December 11, which served as the Speaker's primary legislative priority. Lawmakers will now depart for a district work period after a series of votes on Friday, September 5. They are scheduled to return on September 14 for a brief session before departing again on September 17 for six weeks of campaigning.

The House will reconvene for a lame duck session on November 9 for five additional weeks of business before the 119th Congress concludes. The revised timeline aligns with a prediction previously made by Representative Thomas Massie, which Johnson had initially denied.