Speaker Johnson Extends House Recess for Third Week to Pressure Senate Democrats on Shutdown Stalemate
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has declared the House of Representatives out of session for a third consecutive week, escalating pressure on Senate Democrats as the government shutdown drags on with no end in sight…

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has declared the House of Representatives out of session for a third consecutive week, escalating pressure on Senate Democrats as the government Shutdown drags on with no end in sight.
According to Fox News, the move marks Johnson’s latest attempt to force Democrats to take up the GOP’s short-term funding measure, which the Senate has rejected seven times. Democrats have demanded the inclusion of pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies set to expire at the end of the year — a condition Republicans have labeled as unreasonable.
The House passed its continuing resolution (CR) on Sept. 19 to keep the government funded at current levels through Nov. 21, giving negotiators more time to strike a long-term spending deal for fiscal year 2026. But after Democrats blocked the bill, the House has remained out of session ever since.
Johnson made his decision public Friday afternoon during a brief pro forma session. Under constitutional requirements, the House must convene periodically even if no legislative action is taken. These short meetings, however, often serve as opportunities for lawmakers to make speeches or introduce noncontroversial bills.
The speaker had already canceled votes on Sept. 29 and 30, as well as the following week, in an effort to pressure Senate Democrats into accepting the House’s proposal. Johnson told GOP members during a private call Thursday that he would give them 48 hours’ notice before calling them back to Washington.


