House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the House would leave Washington a day earlier than planned, cutting short a brief session that was already scheduled for just six days in October. This decision comes in light of a surprise impeachment resolution introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie, which accused Hegseth of carrying out unauthorized military actions.
Although the resolution was unlikely to pass, it posed a political risk for Republican leaders, prompting the early recess. Massie criticized the move, suggesting it was an attempt to avoid the politically awkward vote, while Democrats seized the opportunity to claim that the GOP was afraid of the implications of such a vote.
The House had recently passed a war powers resolution aimed at ending U.S. military involvement in Iran, indicating growing bipartisan concern over the conflict. Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson defended Hegseth, asserting that the Department of War is performing better under his leadership.
The situation highlights the tensions within the Republican Party regarding military policy and the upcoming elections