A growing internal dispute has emerged within the House Republican conference regarding Speaker Mike Johnson’s management of the legislative calendar. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has publicly criticized Johnson for sending members home early, arguing that the schedule is being manipulated to avoid politically sensitive votes. The tension centers on the House’s upcoming six-week recess period leading up to the midterms, which Massie claims is effectively stalling his efforts to force a floor vote on the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Massie’s frustration stems from his belief that the leadership is prioritizing time away from Washington over legislative accountability. In comments provided to Axios, Massie characterized the current schedule as a continuation of past patterns, specifically referencing previous recess periods he labeled as "Epstein recesses." He argues that these breaks serve as a tactical delay to prevent members from having to take a public stand on the Hegseth impeachment, which relates to the Secretary’s handling of the conflict in Iran.

While Massie has been vocal about his opposition to the current calendar, the Speaker’s office has not provided a detailed public rebuttal to these specific accusations. The disagreement highlights a broader friction between the Speaker’s leadership style and members of the party who favor a more aggressive legislative agenda. The House is now set to remain out of session for the majority of the coming weeks, leaving the status of Massie’s impeachment push in limbo until members return to the Capitol.