Why It Matters

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) canceled the final scheduled House session day on Sept. 16, sending members home early for a seven-week recess ahead of the November midterm elections. Republican leaders had already cut the pre-election session short by two weeks, and canceling the final voting day temporarily blocked a vote on Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-KY) resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over alleged unauthorized military actions in Iran.

CNN reported that Johnson defended the decision by saying members should return to their districts to make their case to the American people, while the last votes before the recess included a Russia sanctions bill identified as a White House priority.

Massie’s impeachment effort follows congressional attempts to restrict the administration’s military operations in Iran. Congress passed a War Powers Resolution directing the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran, but military operations have continued. Massie argues that Hegseth’s continued prosecution of hostilities despite that congressional directive, as well as the expiration of the War Powers Resolution’s 60-day termination period and potential 30-day withdrawal period, violated the War Powers Resolution. The impeachment resolution represents an escalation of Massie’s effort to hold administration officials accountable for what he alleges are violations of Congress’ constitutional and statutory war powers.

Massie’s resolution contains eight articles of impeachment. In addition to three articles alleging violations of the War Powers Resolution related to Iran, Massie accuses Hegseth of ignoring laws intended to minimize civilian casualties, carrying out extrajudicial killings of suspected drug traffickers at sea, retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) for protected speech, unlawfully directing the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores and conducting unauthorized military operations in Yemen.

The dispute also includes a bipartisan Massie effort to force the release of additional files in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, which the early recess blocked, and Democratic calls for Johnson to keep lawmakers on Capitol Hill before the midterm recess.

The impeachment fight also comes as the Iran war continues to impose significant military and economic costs. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that U.S. combat operations against Iran had cost the Defense Department approximately $38 billion through Aug. 1, including the cost of replacing expended munitions and equipment lost in battle, additional flying hours, operations and higher fuel costs. CBO estimated that continued fighting would cost an additional $2 billion per month if violence remained at the relatively low levels seen in May and June and $3 billion per month if fighting returned to roughly July levels, with potentially higher costs if the conflict escalates. CBO also found that disruptions to oil and natural gas shipments have increased energy prices and put upward pressure on consumer prices.

What They're Saying

Massie said the continued military operations in Iran were central to his impeachment effort. “By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable,” Massie said in a Sept. 15 press release. He also accused Hegseth of ignoring congressional war powers resolutions and said Congress should not “turn a blind eye” to what he characterized as unconstitutional and illegal actions.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) said Johnson canceled the votes to prevent Massie’s articles of impeachment against Hegseth from reaching the floor, an explanation that the available communications do not independently verify. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) said Johnson had canceled votes for the 28th day that year and accused him of avoiding a vote on Hegseth’s impeachment.

The Hill reported that Massie said the early recess was specifically intended to block his Hegseth impeachment resolution, while Boston Herald reported that Johnson dismissed the effort as a stunt. CNBC reported that a Democratic lawmaker said the early departure was designed to shield Hegseth from accountability, while Kelly criticized Johnson for shielding Hegseth from an impeachment vote until after the midterm elections, according to Cronkite News.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) linked the early departure to Republican failures on grocery prices and Middle East wars, and Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA) called it completely irresponsible while urging Congress to resume work on pending legislation, including a bipartisan artificial intelligence safety bill.

Bottom Line

Johnson denied that the early departure was connected to the Hegseth impeachment resolution, according to CNN, and described Congress as the most productive and successful in decades, according to Mercury News and The Associated Press. A Democratic communication characterized the move as sending the House home early while costs were rising and work remained unfinished, and said the canceled votes would leave House Republicans without votes for two months.

The same Democratic statement accused House Republicans of failing to address costs, corruption and the Iran war. Massie’s impeachment effort adds a separate intra-Republican dispute over war powers, with Massie arguing that Congress should use impeachment to respond to Hegseth’s alleged refusal to comply with congressional restrictions on military operations.

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