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Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, once again directed House lawmakers to remain in their districts next week, focusing attention — and heat — in Washington on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for more than a month.
The House clerk announced Friday that Johnson is designating the period from Oct. 20 to 23 as “constituency period,” meaning there will be no House votes or hearings during that time.
This is part of the pressure strategy that Johnson has implemented against Democrats amid the ongoing government shutdownwhich is heading into its fourth week as the GOP federal funding plan stalls in the Senate.
The House GOP on Sept. 19 passed a federal funding plan that includes a seven-week extension of fiscal year (FY) 2025 government spending levels, called a continuing resolution (CR).
A SCREAMING MATCH BREAKS OUT BETWEEN HAKEEM JEFFRIES AND MIKE LAWLER AS GOVERNMENT'S CHAOS CONTINUES
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R) criticizes Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (L) for refusing to agree to a GOP plan to avert a government shutdown. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Thasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
It was aimed at giving congressional negotiators more time to reach a long-term spending deal for fiscal year 2026.
But Democrats, angry at being sidelined from the negotiations, are threatening to reject any deal that doesn't include a COVID-19 era extension. Obamacare Subsidies which expire at the end of December.
Democrats believe millions of Americans are expected to see their health insurance premiums skyrocket before the subsidies themselves expire at the end of this year, with no plan in place.
Republican leaders have signaled their willingness to have those discussions at a later date—though not without reforming the system—but remain steadfast in their demand that the CR be passed without partisan politics.
Johnson told reporters earlier Friday that he would give House members 48 hours' notice before they have to return to vote, something he has said both publicly and privately for weeks.
House of Representatives approves Trump-backed plan to avert government shutdown
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speak to reporters after meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House about funding legislation in Washington, Sept. 29, 2025. (Vin McNamee/Getty Images)
But while the House GOP conference is largely supportive, there are a few Republicans who feel uneasy about the long recess period.
Both Reps. Jay Obernolti, R-Calif., and Julie Fedorchak, D-Del., raised concerns about extended stay-at-home orders during a private call with House Republicans earlier this month.
Rep. Kevin Kiely, R-Calif., has been more public in his criticism. On Wednesday, he told MSNBC on live television: “This is completely unacceptable to me, and I think it just adds to the mistrust.”
And Rep. Dave Valadao, while not explicitly opposed to Johnson's decision, told Fox News Digital that he was “kind of torn about it” before blaming Senate Democrats for putting the GOP in this situation.
Meanwhile, Rep. Johnny Olszewski, D-Md., the only House Democrat who was in the chamber when the congressional period was called, criticized Johnson for keeping the chamber from being in session.
The government shutdown came after Congress failed to reach an agreement on federal funding. (Getty Images)
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“Congress has been absent here in the House of Representatives for nearly a month when critical conversations need to be had about reopening the government, lowering the cost of health care for millions of Americans, and moving forward on critical issues,” Olszewski said.
In a sign of the likely lengthy shutdown, the Senate is preparing to hold a separate vote next week on pay for government workers forced to work during the shutdown, including active-duty military personnel.
Asked by reporters whether the House would return to vote on the measure if it passed the Senate, Johnson said Friday: “If we have a viable path, then yes, but I suspect the Democrats are going to kill it again.”
