Every summer, members of Congress pack up and head home for the month-long August recess—a tradition that offers lawmakers a break from Washington and time to reconnect with constituents. But this year, President Donald Trump wants the Senate to stay put.
Trump is urging Senate Majority Leader John Thune to cancel the recess so the Senate can focus on confirming his pending nominees.
“Hopefully the very talented John Thune, fresh off our many victories over the past two weeks and, indeed, six months, will cancel August recess (and long weekends!) in order to get my incredible nominees confirmed,” Trump wrote on Truth Social over the weekend. “We need them badly!!!”
Thune confirmed on Monday that he’s “thinking about” it, adding that senators are working to move as many nominees “through the pipeline” as possible.
At least one senator is already on board.
“Absolutely, I’m willing to do it,” said Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) during an appearance on Fox News. “I’m happy to stay here as long as we’re working.”
Over 20 of Trump’s diplomatic nominees are still awaiting confirmation, including Kimberly Guilfoyle, tapped to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Greece.
If Trump gets his way, senators could find themselves stuck in Washington while their House counterparts enjoy time off.
This wouldn’t be a first. In 2018, then–Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell canceled the August break for similar reasons under Trump’s first term.
The August recess originally came about as part of an effort to modernize the congressional schedule, giving lawmakers a predictable break rather than working until everything was wrapped up. The month-long pause has also been a hit with lawmakers’ families, offering a rare stretch of summer together.
While many lawmakers do use the recess to vacation, they also spend time back home for town halls, constituent meetings, and—especially in election years—campaigning.
One Senate GOP aide told Business Insider that most senators would probably rather be in their home states talking up the recently passed “Big Beautiful Bill”—Trump’s sweeping fiscal and tax legislation signed into law earlier this month.
So if you’re a senator with August travel plans, you might want to check that cancellation policy.
