Senate Leader McConnel Cancels Recess For Two Reasons

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) (L) and President Donald Trump arrive for the Republican Senate Policy Luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 24, 2017. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Tuesday he was canceling most of the Senate’s August recess to give lawmakers time to pass spending bills before a Sept. 30 deadline and to confirm more of President Donald Trump’s appointees.

“Due to the historic obstruction by Senate Democrats of the president’s nominees and the goal of passing appropriations bills prior to the end of the fiscal year, the August recess has been canceled,” McConnell said in a statement.