House Republicans Brace for Extended Workdays Amid Prolonged Government Shutdown

By Charlie McCarthy | Friday, 31 October 2025 10:18 AM EDT

House Republicans are preparing for extended workdays as the government shutdown nears its conclusion, with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., warning colleagues to expect “long nights, long days” as Congress works to address a backlog of 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 contentious climate and Obamacare provisions. The shutdown has now lasted over five weeks, with GOP leaders divided on the strategy. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, expressed concerns about the workload awaiting them when the session resumes, per Axios.

House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., defended the break as necessary to highlight Democratic obstruction. Cole told The Hill he plans to accelerate work on remaining appropriations bills, criticizing Democrats for refusing to engage in 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 argued that keeping the House out of session during the shutdown was futile, as Senate Democrats blocked all progress. Meanwhile, committees continued oversight work, including releases related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and bipartisan inquiries into sports gambling corruption in the NBA.

Some House conservatives have proposed a long-term CR extending into early 2026, though Cole opposed such an approach but acknowledged a January extension as “reasonable.” Johnson’s allies claim his strategy is effective, noting growing public pressure on Senate Democrats to abandon what he calls their “spending wish list” and reopen the government.

Johnson rejected claims that Republicans are responsible for the shutdown, citing 14 instances where Democrats blocked essential funding for food assistance and veterans’ benefits. He argued that the House-passed CR aligns with Democratic support during the Biden administration, accusing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of prioritizing political survival over bipartisan solutions. “They’re afraid of the far-left Marxists in their party,” Johnson said.

With a backlog of spending bills and delayed committee work, Republicans anticipate intense activity once the standoff ends—but remain confident voters will remember which party kept America running.