Speaker Mike Johnson announced an early start to a seven-week congressional recess, averting a planned impeachment vote against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie. More than 100 House Democrats urged Johnson to stay in session to pass AI safety legislation after recent warnings from industry experts. Republicans moved some expected votes, including challenges to EPA rules, to an earlier time.
Johnson Pulls House Into Early Recess, Sidesteps Impeachment Vote as Democrats Demand AI Safeguards
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks Thursday at the Republican midterm convention at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Johnson on Wednesday canceled the House session set for the next day, sending lawmakers home early for a seven-week recess. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson announced Wednesday that he is canceling the House session scheduled for Thursday and beginning a seven-week recess early, further shortening an already reduced legislative calendar.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks at a memorial event at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on Friday. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI
The move prevents a planned vote on a resolution that would seek the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The measure, filed Tuesday by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), reportedly contains eight articles of impeachment.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., looks on as Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., on February 11. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Staff told reporters that other measures originally slated for Thursday — including votes to overturn several Environmental Protection Agency regulations — were expected to be taken up Wednesday evening instead, according to Politico.
Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., speaks during a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 13, 2024. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Democrats Push For AI Legislation
More than 100 House Democrats co-signed a letter on Wednesday urging Speaker Johnson to remain in session so lawmakers could consider legislation to establish safeguards for advanced artificial intelligence. The letter emphasized the urgency of congressional action amid growing industry warnings about the technology's risks.
Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., speaks during a rally outside the U.S. Capitol on September 30, 2021. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
"While we're seeing this firestorm of concern throughout the country around AI safety, we've got Speaker Johnson fiddling," one of the signatories said. "Speaker Mike Johnson is shutting down Congress for seven weeks. The American people need action, not vacation."
Industry Warnings and Political Reactions
Industry figures and researchers have recently issued stark warnings about AI. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published an essay warning that developers risk "losing control of AI systems," and a former researcher at Anthropic and OpenAI said in a resignation letter that some developers are not "acting responsibly" and warned the technology could pose existential risks.
President Donald Trump dismissed those concerns on Tuesday, calling them part of a "SICK conspiracy" and saying the only oversight AI needs is a "STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT!"
What Comes Next
Republican leaders had already announced on Sept. 3 that they would cancel the final two weeks of the current legislative session, meaning the session would end Thursday instead of running through Oct. 1. House members are scheduled to return Nov. 9, after Election Day on Nov. 3.
Note on names and sourcing: The article preserves the names and attributions from the original reporting, but some listed signatories in earlier versions of this story appear inconsistent with public congressional rosters. Readers and editors should verify named co-signers against the official letter and congressional records for absolute accuracy.
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