WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday sent lawmakers home through the November midterm election even earlier than planned, ensuring further delays on the House’s growing to-do list, including action on artificial intelligence.

The House of Representatives was supposed to work through Thursday and then break for nearly seven weeks ahead of the November election. But Johnson, R-La., abruptly decided to close up shop at the end of the day Wednesday.

Johnson acted after Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced a surprise resolution Tuesday to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war in Iran. Massie said Johnson sent lawmakers home to protect fellow Republicans from having to vote on impeachment.

“And there it is,” Massie wrote on social media. “Just as I predicted. They’re canceling Congress tomorrow to avoid a vote on IMPEACHING @SecWar.”

Johnson, however, dismissed the claim.

“It’s a publicity stunt by someone who wants attention. It will immediately be tabled, of course,” Johnson said, adding that Hegseth “has done an extraordinary job in the Department of War.”

The House’s retreat from the Capitol also means the growing push to regulate AI will have to wait until at least after the midterms.

Momentum for quick action had been building for a week after a growing number of AI leaders called for government guardrails on the rapidly evolving technology, warning it could soon be hard to control and could potentially wipe out humanity.

“I don’t think it’s an option to abdicate our responsibility and to go home, nor do I think it’s an option to abdicate our responsibility to tech executives to regulate themselves,” said Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass. “ … I think it’s completely irresponsible.”

President Donald Trump, though, labeled the warnings about AI a “HOAX” and a “SICK conspiracy” Monday, while Johnson has pushed back against calls for federal action.

“They can self-police, they can self-regulate,” Johnson said Tuesday. “They don’t need the government to tell them to slow it down. If they want to slow it down, they should.”

Before Wednesday’s decision, Johnson had already shaved two weeks off the House schedule to give lawmakers more time on the campaign trail. House members will now have nearly 50 days to campaign in their districts as both parties wrest control of the House.