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House GOP Suffers Floor Defeat as Six Republicans Sink Overtime Measure

A shrinking majority with spotty attendance left leaders short on votes.

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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson at a news conference on Oct. 9, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to the members of the media, following a briefing for the House of Representatives on the situation in Venezuela, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 7, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
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Overview

  • The Flexibility for Workers Education Act failed 209-215 after Republicans Rob Bresnahan, Nick LaLota, Jeff Van Drew, Chris Smith, Riley Moore, and Brian Fitzpatrick joined all Democrats to oppose it.
  • The bill would exclude certain voluntary training outside regular hours from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s definition of hours worked, effectively allowing that time to go unpaid for overtime purposes.
  • Following the defeat, GOP leaders pulled two related labor measures from the floor, with only the SHOWER Act advancing that night.
  • Several Republicans blamed leadership for not properly whipping or counting votes, while Speaker Mike Johnson insisted he is "totally in control of the House."
  • The razor-thin GOP margin has been stretched by vacancies and member absences, and the White House has urged Republicans to avoid missed votes to protect the president’s agenda.