By Charlie McCarthy | Friday, 31 October 2025 10:18 AM EDT
House Republicans are preparing for extended workdays following the conclusion of the government shutdown, with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., warning colleagues to expect “long nights, long days” as Congress accelerates efforts to address delayed legislative priorities.
Frustration has mounted among GOP lawmakers during the prolonged recess ordered by Johnson amid a budget standoff that has now lasted over five weeks, according to The Hill. The House last held votes on Sept. 19 as Johnson sought to pressure Senate Democrats to accept a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) funding the government through Nov. 21 without additional provisions such as climate and Obamacare measures demanded by Democrats.
The decision to keep the House out of session has divided Republicans. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, expressed concern on a recent conference call about the growing workload awaiting lawmakers after the shutdown ends, per Axios. Meanwhile, GOP leaders including House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., argue the break is necessary to highlight Democratic obstruction.
Cole told The Hill he plans to meet with Johnson to expedite work on the remaining 12 appropriations bills, noting Democrats have refused to engage in meaningful negotiations. “We’ve got to move and we’re wasting a lot of time,” Cole said. “Once we’re allowed to negotiate, we can get these bills done.”
Johnson has maintained that keeping members in Washington during the shutdown would yield little progress given Senate Democrats’ blockage of all initiatives. In the interim, committees have continued oversight work, releasing documents tied to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and bipartisan inquiries into sports gambling corruption in the NBA.
Some House conservatives have proposed an extended CR lasting until early 2026, though Cole opposes a long-term measure but considers a January extension “reasonable.” Behind-the-scenes, Johnson’s allies claim his strategy is effective, citing growing public pressure on Senate Democrats to abandon what he calls their “spending wish list” and reopen the government.
“The reason our numbers are rising,” Johnson said, “is because we are articulating the simple truth: Republicans are voting to keep the government open; Democrats are voting to keep it closed.”
With a backlog of spending bills, delayed committee work, and escalating public frustration, House Republicans anticipate a surge in activity once the standoff concludes. However, they remain confident voters will recall which party fought to maintain government operations.
In multiple interviews Thursday, Johnson rebutted Democratic claims that Republicans are responsible for the shutdown. He cited 14 instances where Democrats blocked essential funding for food assistance and veterans’ benefits, asserting that Republicans have consistently supported programs such as SNAP, military pay, and veterans’ health services. “Democrats have voted 14 times to block all of that,” Johnson said.
He argued that the House-passed CR aligns with Democratic support during the Biden administration, claiming Democrats’ current rejection stems from fear of their far-left base. “They’re playing games with real people’s lives,” Johnson stated.
