House breaks for month-long August recess despite Epstein controversy

The House of Representatives on Wednesday night concluded its floor business in Washington, D.C. for the rest of the summer, despite pushback over the Trump administration's failure to release files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. 

Republican House leaders promised to take action on the Epstein files when the chamber returns to Capitol Hill in September if necessary, with House Speaker Mike Johnson stating earlier this week that he did not feel Congress needed to act on the topic immediately because the administration was working to provide more transparency on the issue.

Johnson also pushed back on rhetoric that he was wrapping the chamber a day earlier than initially planned because he was trying to avoid a vote on the Epstein files, stating lawmakers would still be working this week. 

“We are fulfilling the calendar,” Johnson told reporters Wednesday. “We’re working, we’ll be working tomorrow, there will have been votes every day this week, we have nine or 10 committees working through markups this week, many tomorrow. Congress is doing its work, no one is adjourning early.

“We have an August district work period that is very important to the function of Congress that has been recognized for all of memory of this institution, and that is what everyone will be doing,” he added.

House lawmakers are expected to promote the accomplishments they've completed during the first six-months of the new term, including passing historic legislation like the "One Big Beautiful Bill," and will reconvene in D.C. on Sept. 2.

The Senate will also leave for its August recess soon, but the exact date of its break is unclear because of blowback over its failure to confirm key Trump nominees.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.