House GOP Preps for Extended Sessions as Government Workload Looms Post-Shutdown

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 scrambles to address delayed legislative priorities. The prolonged recess, ordered by Johnson during the budget standoff, has sparked frustration among GOP lawmakers, according to reports.

The House last held votes on Sept. 19 as Johnson sought to pressure Senate Democrats to accept a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through Nov. 21 without climate and Obamacare add-ons that Democrats have demanded. The shutdown has split Republicans, with Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, expressing concerns about the workload awaiting them upon resuming sessions.

GOP leaders, including House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., argue the break is necessary to highlight Democrat obstruction. Cole told The Hill he plans to accelerate work on 12 remaining appropriations bills, noting Democrats have refused 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 defended the shutdown strategy, claiming Senate Democrats blocked all progress. Meanwhile, committees continue oversight work, releasing documents tied to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and bipartisan inquiries into sports gambling corruption in the NBA. Some House conservatives have floated a longer-term CR extending to early 2026, though Cole opposes such an extension but acknowledges a January deadline “sounds reasonable.”

Behind the scenes, Johnson’s allies insist his strategy is effective, with growing public pressure on Senate Democrats to abandon what he calls their “spending wish list” and reopen the government. “Republicans are voting to keep the government open; Democrats are voting to keep it closed,” Johnson said, citing 14 Republican votes to fund SNAP benefits, military pay, and veterans’ health services while accusing Democrats of blocking essential programs.

Johnson argued that Senate Democrats’ refusal to support even a short-term funding bill proves the shutdown is politically motivated, claiming they fear “the rise of the far-left Marxists” in their party. He reiterated that the House-passed CR aligns with Democratic priorities during the Biden administration, suggesting Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s actions are driven by self-preservation.

With a backlog of spending bills and delayed committee work, GOP leaders anticipate intensified activity as the standoff ends, betting voters will recall which party prioritized keeping America running.