As the midterm elections loom and Republicans are at risk of losing at least one chamber, President Trump is pushing hard to pass his legislative agenda these next few months. Most notably the SAVE America Act.
Every single year, both the House and the Senate leave for the month of August for this yearly tradition known as “August Recess.” The House left at the end of July and the Senate is set to leave at the end of the week.
Given that Members of Congress will typically arrive in Washington DC around Monday afternoon the earliest and they usually fly back to their respective states by Thursday afternoon, they come to work an average of three days a week.
In addition to getting August Recess and showing up to work less days a week than the average American, Congress also gets the month of October off during midterm and Presidential election cycles to campaign.
Members of Congress also get extended breaks during federal holidays such as Easter, Christmas, the 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, and Presidents Day. These extended breaks could last between one to two weeks.
It gets even worse, as several Members during the legislative session have reportedly gone missing for weeks, even months. Members such as Rep. Tom Kean, R-NJ and Rep. Maxine Waters, D-CA, have fallen under scrutiny for this.
Additionally, former Senate Leader of the Republican Caucus, Mitch McConnell, R-KY, has been hospitalized for over 50 days and nobody is even sure about his current condition.
President Trump attempted to cancel August recess in 2025, so that the Senate can speed up the process in confirming nominees for various positions, but it never ended up happening.
The President is once again trying to cancel August Recess this year so that the Senate can pass the SAVE Act and vote confirm Todd Blanche as the next Attorney General.
He is being joined by 20 GOP Senators. The initiative was spearheaded by Senator Mike Lee, R-UT.
20 Republican Senators Are Now Standing Together DEMANDING no August Recess Until the SAVE America Act is passed.
Here’s the roster:
-Mike Lee
-Rick Scott
-Tommy Tuberville
-Jim Banks
-Ashley Moody
-Darline Graham
-Bill Hagerty
-Katie Britt
-Todd Young
-Marsha Blackburn
-Eric… pic.twitter.com/h8TReDhn8L— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 4, 2026
Can the President get August Recess cancelled this year? The Gateway Pundit spoke to several lawmakers about these developments.
Senator Andy Kim, D-NJ, agrees with the 20 GOP Senators that are pushing to cancel recess.
“We need to get the work done for the American people, and we shouldn’t be thinking about when is vacation time or whatnot,” Kim told TGP in an exclusive interview.
WATCH: Senator @AndyKimNJ supports cancelling August Recess.@gatewaypundit pic.twitter.com/qUb0Mzrv20
— Myles Morell (@MorellMedia) August 6, 2026
“The American people are working around the clock. They’re working hard. We should make sure that we’re doing our due diligence, that we’re getting things done.”
Senator Rand Paul, R-KY, who represents Kentucky alongside McConnell, refused to say if he supports cancelling August Recess.
Senator Deb Fischer, R-NE, is willing to stay at work for August Recess.
“I think we need to get a lot done this week in the time frame that we have. And if that goes into next week, I’m certainly willing to stay here,” Fischer told TGP in an exclusive interview.
The interview with Fischer was interrupted when she had to move out of the way from oncoming traffic that was headed to the elevator. Fischer took the opportunity to slip into the elevator with everyone else before the interview was finished.
WATCH: Senator @DebforNebraska told the @gatewaypundit that she is willing to stay at work during August Recess.
Our interview was interrupted when people were trying to get by to access the elevator. Fischer then took the opportunity to escape to the elevator. pic.twitter.com/uXMtswQMSN
— Myles Morell (@MorellMedia) August 6, 2026
Senator Angela Alsobrooks, D-MD, wants to use August Recess to campaign for Democrats across the country for the 2026 midterms.
“We’re getting out across the country, and we’re going to be working to get Democrats elected. We’re gonna be fighting for every seat. I was in Mississippi last weekend, Georgia the weekend before that. I’ve been in Illinois, and we’re gonna be all across the country really,” Alsobrooks told TGP in an exclusive interview.
Alsobrooks could not help herself and took the opportunity to attack President Trump, who is trying to cancel August Recess:
“We’re spreading the message that we have got to get an agenda again that really addresses the needs of the middle class in our country, who now cannot afford the cost of gas as a result of this administration.”
Alsobrooks doesn’t want to cancel August Recess so that Democrats can “spread the message” for the midterms:
“No, we shouldn’t cancel. We need to go out and talk to the American people to really spread the message that we’ve got to get to the polls and to vote in people who will address the needs of, the American people.”
WATCH: Senator @AlsobrooksForMD doesn’t want August Recess to be cancelled so she can campaign for Democrats across the country in the 2026 midterms. @gatewaypundit pic.twitter.com/80hDc4xbSb
— Myles Morell (@MorellMedia) August 6, 2026
Senator Josh Hawley, R-MO, who is one of the 20 GOP Senators pushing to cancel August Recess, emphasized the need to pass the SAVE Act.
“My view is that there’s just some really important things that we need to try and get done. You know, voter ID, I mean, we need to, we need to at least vote on voter ID, you know? I mean, we need to pass it,” Hawley told TGP in an exclusive interview.
“I always say that in Missouri we’ve had it in our state constitution for years, you know, and it works wonderfully. So we need it nationwide.”
August Recess has been a tradition in Congress since the 18th Century and many have argued that it is essential for Members of Congress to go home and get work done in their districts and states.
But given how little Congress actually shows up to work every year, it’s no wonder why the American people are increasingly starting to see it as an extended vacation, rather than a district work period.
August Recess is just becoming outdated in the eyes of many.
Could President Trump do what he failed to do in 2025 and cancel August Recess?
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