Yet some Republicans have begun to question whether the recess is backfiring on them, given the optics of lawmakers collecting paychecks while away. Adding to those frustrations is the fact that House Democrats, who are opposing the funding bill unless Republicans agree to healthcare concessions, have stayed in Washington despite the extended recess, offering them a chance to counter-message the shutdown and paint the GOP as unwilling to work.

Rep. Kevin Kiley, a California Republican, has openly criticized the speaker for keeping lawmakers in their districts, insisting it’s the “wrong decision.” Kiley has been on Capitol Hill, where he has had conversations with Democrats on the delay of swearing in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, the Washington Examiner learned. 

Like Kiley, other members have returned to the Hill despite the speaker’s directive.

The Washington Examiner spoke with Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) on Capitol Hill this week amid the shutdown.

“I’ve been speaking all over,” he said, when asked what he’s done in his district. “I’ve been speaking to a lot of groups, meeting with a lot of people, our offices are all open, and we’re taking care of our constituents.” 

Burchett also said he’s been working “after hours” on his yearslong hobby of home-made skateboards.

Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) showed he was in Washington when he responded to Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) on X after she told a reporter that he has been on “vacation.”

“Well Senator @PattyMurray I’m not in fact on vacation, I’m here in D.C. whenever you want to meet!” he said. 

Last week, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) confronted House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) with a copy of a bill to extend premium Obamacare subisides, Democrats’ chief demand in the shutdown fight, for another year. Jeffries had previously said a one-year extension was not enough as Democrats look to make the enhanced subsidies permanent.

“Why don’t you sign on right now? You can easily extend the ACA right now,” Lawler said to Jeffries as he pointed to the 12 Democrats who signed on to a bill from Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) to extend the tax credits. “Are they wrong?”

“You’re making a show of this to keep yourself relevant,” Jeffries responded. “You’re embarrassing yourself right now. You’re chasing clout. You’re an embarrassment.”

Back home in their districts, Republicans have been doing much of what leadership has been doing at the Capitol — messaging.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) held a press conference in front of Fort Hamilton this week to talk about the shutdown. 

“I was in New York yesterday, and we did a press conference in front of Fort Hamilton Army base in Brooklyn, which is right in the borough where Chuck Schumer lives,” she told reporters on a call Thursday. “It is a borough that I represent.”

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC) held virtual town hall meetings to talk about the government shutdown.

“I’m excited to connect with constituents across all 21 counties in the 4th Congressional District to provide an update on what I’ve been working on in Congress and to talk about the current government shutdown,” said Boebert in a press release. 

As Johnson’s caucus has been told to stay away, he and his leadership team have remained at the Capitol, holding press conferences while also becoming part of the drama. 

Johnson interrupted Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) as they spoke with reporters last week, as Democrats have pushed to have Grijalva sworn into Congress following her special election win last month.

Johnson said he would swear her in when Senate Democrats provide the votes needed to end the shutdown. More broadly, the speaker has promised to give a 48-hour notice for lawmakers to return to the Capitol once the impasse is resolved.

While Republicans have stayed away from the Capitol, Jeffries has asked his caucus to remain in Washington to show they are “ready to work” and has arranged for House Democrats to hold multiple press conferences a day.

That could be starting to change, however. One House Democrat told the Washington Examiner that Democratic leadership wants their members to stay in their districts next week to hold events emphasizing their shutdown demands.

“No vacations for us,” the House Democrat said.

IT’S GROUNDHOG DAY ON CAPITOL HILL WITH NO SHUTDOWN SOLUTION IN SIGHT

Democrats in the upper chamber have also put forth their own plan, which has repeatedly been rejected, to reopen the government alongside their demands on healthcare, including a rollback of Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill.

As the House continues to try and pressure the upper chamber, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has continuously aimed to keep enough of his Democratic caucus in line to force Republicans to strike a deal that meets Democratic demands on healthcare. So far, only Sen. Angus King (I-ME) and two Democrats have backed the GOP plan.

Rachel Schilke contributed to this report.