Pressure Mounts on Congress to Return During Partial Shutdown

TMZ, Trump, and unions call for lawmakers to cut short recess as federal workers go without pay

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:18am

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With the partial government shutdown now the longest in U.S. history, pressure is growing on Congress to return from recess and address the funding impasse. Celebrity gossip outlet TMZ has been posting paparazzi-style videos and photos of lawmakers on vacation, fueling public backlash. President Trump has also urged Congress to come back, even hinting he may invoke rarely used powers to call them into session. Unions representing federal workers are adding to the pressure, criticizing lawmakers for leaving Washington while their members go without pay.

Why it matters

The growing public pressure highlights the political and optics challenges facing Congress as the shutdown drags on, with lawmakers being criticized for appearing out-of-touch as federal workers struggle. It also raises questions about whether Trump will be willing to compromise with Democrats to end the impasse, or if he will try to force Congress back into session.

The details

The Senate had reached a bipartisan funding deal last week, but House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected it, and House Republicans passed their own version before heading for the exits. With no clear path forward, the shutdown has now become the longest in U.S. history. TMZ has been actively pursuing and publishing paparazzi-style footage and photos of lawmakers on vacation, racking up millions of views and fueling public outrage. President Trump has also called on Congress to return, even suggesting he may invoke rarely used powers to force them back into session. Unions representing federal workers, like the American Federation of Government Employees TSA Council 100, are adding to the pressure, criticizing lawmakers for leaving Washington while their members go without pay.

  • The partial government shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history.
  • The Senate reached a bipartisan funding deal last week, but it was rejected by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
  • House Republicans passed their own version of a funding bill before heading on recess.

The players

Mike Johnson

The Republican Speaker of the House who rejected the bipartisan Senate funding deal.

John Thune

The Republican Senate Majority Whip who has said there is no clear path to passing a DHS funding bill through the Senate.

Hydrick Thomas

The president of the American Federation of Government Employees TSA Council 100, a union representing federal workers.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who has called on Congress to return from recess and cancel their scheduled break.

Chris Coons

A Democratic Senator from Delaware who has said there is no point in calling Congress back because the bipartisan agreement has already collapsed.

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What they’re saying

“It outraged us so much we wanted to use our platforms to show how Congress — Dems AND Republicans — have betrayed us.”

— Harvey Levin, TMZ Executive Producer

“To leave Washington while tens of thousands of workers are going without pay shows a clear lack of respect for the essential employees tasked with keeping our nation safe.”

— Hydrick Thomas, President of the American Federation of Government Employees TSA Council 100

“There's no point in calling us back because that was the result of a conscious choice by the Republican majority.”

— Chris Coons, Democratic Senator from Delaware

What’s next

It remains unclear if Republican leadership will heed calls to bring Congress back from recess, as there is no easy path to resolving the funding impasse. The collapse of the bipartisan Senate deal has soured the mood for negotiations, leaving lawmakers pointing fingers. Without a clear resolution in sight, the pressure on Congress to act is likely to continue mounting.

The takeaway

The partial government shutdown has become a political and public relations crisis for Congress, with lawmakers facing growing backlash for appearing out-of-touch as federal workers go without pay. The pressure to return from recess highlights the challenges facing lawmakers in resolving the funding dispute, and raises questions about whether President Trump will be willing to compromise with Democrats to end the impasse.