Why the House let out early is a matter of debate after Johnson says chamber has 'done its work'

It’s a matter of debate as to why House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sent the House home a day early this week. This is in addition to the House lopping off two additional weeks from its schedule later this month and into early October. "We're going to modify the House schedule by a day.

And let me explain to you why. The House has done its work," said Johnson as House Members fled Capitol Hill early Wednesday night. "House Republicans are going now back to our districts.

We're going to make the case to the American people on what we have delivered on their behalf." The House isn’t scheduled to reconvene until November 9, just after the midterms. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., believes there’s a different reason Johnson cut everyone loose early. The Kentucky Republican introduced eight articles of impeachment for Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.

Because Massie’s push for impeachment is "privileged," the House had 48 hours max to consider the articles. THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO MASSIE SAYING JOHNSON IS SENDING THE HOUSE HOME EARLY TO PREVENT HEGSETH IMPEACHMENT "I figured out why we canceled tomorrow," said Massie. "Tomorrow would be the vote on impeaching Secretary of Defense Peter Bryan Hegseth.

And it looks like that vote's not going to happen." A senior House Republican leadership source insisted to Fox last week that Members would be on Capitol Hill "for a full week." But by Wednesday, the House had synced up with the Senate and passed the Russia sanctions bill. It okayed legislation to protect consumers from high electricity and water bills associated with data centers – foisting the cost on tech companies. Yes, there were calls by bipartisan lawmakers that the House should remain in session to address intensifying concerns about AI.

But the House was running out of floor traffic. Except for Massie’s measure to impeach Hegseth. REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: HOUSE CONTROL COULD HINGE ON WHETHER THE OLD POLITICAL RULES STILL APPLY Now you can determine for yourself why Johnson dismissed lawmakers a day early – to say nothing of the plan for the House to cut town two weeks sooner than originally planned.