The House of Representatives will remain in recess next week, as confirmed during a pro forma session on Friday. Speaker Mike Johnson had previously indicated the House might return to session, but the decision to keep the chamber in recess aligns with the Senate’s ongoing efforts to resolve the government shutdown.
The Senate has rejected a House-passed continuing resolution that would extend federal funding through November 21, with Senate Democrats pushing for additional concessions on health care in exchange for lifting the funding freeze. House Republicans argue that reopening the House so soon would be counterproductive, with some suggesting it could exacerbate tensions.
House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole expressed support for the GOP leaders’ argument that returning to session would be ‘negotiating against yourself.’ Cole criticized Democrats’ demands for additional concessions on health care, stating that the Republicans are being ‘blackmailed’ into doing something they are not prepared to do at this point.
A GOP senator also warned that bringing the House back next week would only make things ‘worse.’ Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota said, ‘You’ve got 435 members now all angry,’ adding that the House’s return would only add ‘more fuel for the fire.’
The extended recess stands to delay the swearing-in of Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who is expected to be the final required signature on a discharge petition for a bill forcing Justice Department disclosure of files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
‘Johnson and House Republicans care more about protecting the Epstein files than protecting the American people,’ Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said after the schedule announcement Friday.
The recess decision is also likely to delay a planned Tuesday hearing in the Judiciary Committee with Attorney General Pam Bondi, with Democrats and at least one Republican planning to grill her on the administration’s handling of the Epstein case.
Jordain Carney contributed to this report.