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Rep. Randy Fine of Florida is calling on House and Senate Republicans to cancel their holiday recesses and remain in Washington through Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's, arguing that Republicans have only weeks left before Democrats take full control of Congress on January 3, 2027, and should use every available day to pass legislation and confirm President Donald Trump's remaining nominees.
Fine made the case at a House Freedom Caucus press conference on Tuesday, November 11, where the caucus laid out its lame-duck roadmap. "53 days — that's all we have before the nutjobs take over," Fine said. "I'll stay here 24/7 if that's what it takes. Time is precious, we cannot waste it."
He first raised the idea on Monday, November 9, speaking to voters at a restaurant in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, and later appearing on Fox News with Brian Kilmeade, where he said he was willing to spend every day through January 3 in Washington. In a clip from that appearance, Fine said: "We should stay here for every one of those days. We can eat turkey in the Capitol…"
The push is aimed at the work Republicans still have unfinished: a third budget reconciliation package, government funding — Congress faces a December 11 deadline to fund the government — and the confirmation of Trump's pending nominees. As of Tuesday, November 10, 23 judicial nominees and nearly 100 executive-branch nominees were awaiting Senate action, and Trump has pressed the Senate to confirm all 161 pending nominations, including 25 federal judges.
Fine is not the only Republican pressing for the extra time. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida has urged senators to stay in Washington every day through Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's until Democrats are sworn in, and Sen. Mike Lee has made the same case. Sen. Bernie Moreno warned before the election that Republicans should remain in Washington from November 9 to December 31 with no break at all if they lost control of Congress. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has agreed with his conference on a 54-day lame-duck push focused on nominees, funding and defense legislation.
The argument behind the demand is the calendar. Republicans hold majorities in both chambers only until the new Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2027, after Democrats won the 2026 midterm elections. Fine has argued that a Democratic-controlled House would move quickly on its own priorities, and that the weeks before the handover are the last window for Republicans to finish theirs.