Restless House Republicans begin to defy Johnson’s shutdown recess

Published October 19, 2025 6:00am ET



A growing number of House Republicans, frustrated over a monthlong shutdown recess, are traveling back to Washington, D.C., despite Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) decision to keep his conference at home.

GOP leadership announced on Friday that the House would be gone another week as the shutdown begins to flirt with record territory. The decision is part of an effort to pressure Senate Democrats to accept the short-term funding bill that passed the lower chamber on Sept. 19.

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