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April Recess Toolkit
Members of Congress (MoCs) will be back on your home turf from Saturday, April 12, through Sunday, April 27, and it’s our opportunity to remind them who they work for. Below is everything you need to know about congressional recess, why it matters, our demands of our MoCs, and a few ideas for events that you can plan to get their attention.
Now in WHAT IS CONGRESSIONAL RECESS AND WHY DOES IT MATTER
WHAT IS CONGRESSIONAL RECESS AND WHY DOES IT MATTER
Congressional recess isn’t a vacation—it’s a critical part of the legislative calendar when Members of Congress (MoCs) return to their home districts to meet with constituents. Officially called a District Work Period for the House of Representatives and a State Work Period for the Senate, these weeks exist to ensure that MoCs remain accountable to the people they represent (insert joke here—go ahead).
You should go ahead and calendar these Recess dates now (keep in mind they’re subject to change)—because this isn’t the first time we’re doing this, and we have a feeling it won’t be the last. Here’s a combined 2025 congressional calendar.
Recess is when Members of Congress go back home to host town halls, meet with constituents, and be responsive to the people who elected them (MAGA Republicans seem to always forget this part). It is also when MoCs think they can avoid public scrutiny—especially Republicans who want to DO(D)GE tough questions about their complicity in Trump and Musk’s coup.
Republicans use this time to meet with lobbyists and donors while hoping their constituents stay silent. Democrats, meanwhile, need to hear from us to remind them that we expect them to use it to fight back. (BTW, if you’re looking for more information about some of these basics about how Congress works and how to get their attention, you’re going to love the original 2016 Indivisible Guide.)
This recess—from Saturday, April 12 to Sunday, April 27—is our opportunity to take action. We show up. We hold them accountable for their votes. We refuse to let them hide.
Every Republican must feel the heat for voting to cut Medicaid, SNAP, and other vital programs to fund massive tax giveaways to billionaires. Every Democrat must know that we’ve got their backs when they fight back to protect everyday Americans.
WHY RECESS MATTERS
Since 2017, Indivisible groups across the country have used congressional recesses to disrupt the status quo, hold elected officials accountable, and win real victories. We’ve made it impossible for MoCs to hide—from the first wave of resistance to Trump’s agenda in 2017, to stopping Republican efforts to gut healthcare, to mobilizing to defend democracy in 2020 and beyond.
Just last month, Indivisible groups nationwide mobilized during recess to demand their MoCs hold town halls. If their Republican MoC refused to show up, they held their own empty-chair town halls and other events highlighting their lack of accountability to the voters.
🔥We know that showing up works. Every single time we’ve organized around congressional recess, we’ve made lawmakers take notice—and changed the political landscape. This recess, we do it again. Because the stakes are too high to stay home.
Now in STATE OF PLAY
STATE OF PLAY: WHY WE’RE TAKING ACTION
Republicans in Congress are selling us out to help billionaires like Elon Musk get even richer. They’re using budget reconciliation—a wonky process that would allow them to pass this legislation with only Republican votes—to ram through their tax scam. Here’s what’s in the bill:
- Over a trillion dollars in cuts to Medicaid, nutrition assistance like SNAP, and other vital programs. Millions of Americans will lose their health insurance, children in need will go without school meals, and working families will face higher costs for housing, healthcare, and groceries.
- Massive handouts for billionaires. The Republican budget scam gives trillions of dollars in tax cuts to the ultrawealthy and big corporations.
Bottom line: Republicans want to fleece the American people so billionaires can buy another private jet or luxury yacht. But they know their plan is unpopular. That’s why they’re using budget reconciliation, because they don’t have enough votes to pass it through normal procedures. But Donald Trump has demanded tax breaks for his rich friends, and so Republicans are falling over themselves to deliver for him.
And while all of this unfolds, Republicans in Congress are enabling Trump and Musk’s power grab. They think they can get away with it because people won’t fight back. That’s where we come in.
OUR RECESS DEMANDS
This recess, we’re continuing to make Republicans sweat, and make sure Democrats stand firm. We are showing up, speaking out, and refusing to let anyone dodge responsibility. They work for us, and they will hear from us. Here’s how to think about your goals depending on who your MoC is.
GOALS FOR HOLDING REPUBLICANS ACCOUNTABLE
- Put Republicans on the spot—force them to explain why they support a plan that not only gives billionaires huge handouts, but pays for those handouts by gutting Medicaid, SNAP, and other vital programs.
- Publicize their plan—make sure your community knows what’s at stake if Republicans ram through their tax scam.
- Expose the harm—tie Republicans directly to the devastating impacts that these cuts will have on everyday people.
- Make it impossible for them to ignore their constituents—show up at their offices, events, and anywhere they try to hide. Remind them they work for you, not Trump, Musk, or any other billionaire.
- Ensure they feel the pressure back in Washington—so they know they’ll be held accountable at home if they vote for this tax scam.
GOALS FOR PUSHING DEMOCRATS TO FIGHT BACK
- Encourage Democrats to continue to publicly condemn tax cuts for billionaires and to keep fighting for Medicaid, food assistance, and all of the vital programs that working families rely on.
- Strengthen the resolve of Democrats who are fighting back—push them to be bold, and then show them strong public support when they listen.
- Make it clear that when they fight, we have their backs—but if they remain silent while Republicans gut our essential programs, we will hold them accountable.
A Note On Social Security and Medicare:
Republicans are most certainly threatening Social Security and Medicare. They’ve put Social Security at risk by gutting the Social Security Administration and firing thousands of employees that ensured that seniors got their benefits. And they’re threatening to completely privatize Medicare, jeopardizing access to quality health care for over 65 million Americans.
These threats just aren’t happening via budget reconciliation. In fact, changes to Social Security aren’t allowed under the rules of reconciliation. For that bill, Republicans have focused on their tax scam—cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other vital programs to pay for billionaire tax breaks.
RECOMMENDED TACTICS
If the last recess was about getting our MoCs on the record, this recess is about visibility. MAGA thrives on sowing fear, chaos, and lies to evade accountability and to try to silence and intimidate people fighting for our democracy. We need to let Trump, Musk, our communities, and the world know that we are here, we are paying attention, and we’re not going anywhere, anytime soon, without a fight. We’re stronger when we stand together.
Organize rallies with clear signage that lets casual passersby know what it is about. We want to make sure we’re capturing the attention of even those who are just driving by (and maybe convincing them to join in). People should be able to share pictures of the event and anyone who sees those pictures should immediately understand what’s at stake. Big signs and big numbers are great ways to force people to pay attention. Once we have their attention, we want to make sure our message is clear.
IDEAS FOR EFFECTIVE TACTICS
Your tactics will vary depending on your MoCs (do you have a Democratic MoC who has been fighting for the people or do you have an apathetic Republican who is happy to slash Medicaid at the behest of Trump and Musk). Regardless of your representation, you’ll want to employ tactics that catch the eye of people in your community and across the world.
These rallies should take place in highly visible and/or meaningful places (e.g. your MoC’s district/state office, town square, city hall, or along a major thoroughfare). The more people we can get to pay attention (and join in), the harder it will be for Republicans to get away with slashing vital government programs like SNAP and Medicaid. Some ideas:
- 🏦The People’s Checkbook
Concept: Create an oversized check made out to “Elon Musk and Donald Trump” for the amount of money being funneled to billionaires via GOP tax breaks. Include memos like “funded by cuts to Medicaid” or “signed by Rep. [Name].” Deliver to your Republican MoC’s office or have a billionaire stand-in, like the Monopoly Man accept the check.
- This visual would remind people just how much money Trump is funneling to billionaires at the expense of the American people. For an interactive version: Create a blank check labeled “THE PEOPLE’S MONEY” and allow folks to write in what they actually would like that money to pay for instead of billionaire’s yachts (e.g. schools, healthcare, clean air).
- 🏠Eviction Notice
Concept: Tape up giant “Eviction Notices” on your MoC’s district office to symbolize what’s happening to working people when vital government programs are slashed. Note: Please make sure it’s clear that these are fake and for satirical purposes. Do not forge real eviction notices.
- Use props such as cardboard boxes labeled with “my medication,” “my rent,” “my kids’ school,” “the CFPB,” etc. to represent what working Americans are not able to afford as billionaires cash in. For an interactive version: Create a visual running tally of what programs people in your community are most worried about Trump slashing like housing assistance, Medicaid, and SNAP.
- 🎤Public Comment Pop-Up
Concept: Set up a “public comment booth” on public property outside of your MoC’s office (can be as simple as a podium, microphone, and “recording” sign). Let people share stories of what these cuts mean in their lives.
- Personal stories are some of the most compelling ways to drive change and break through assumptions. It’s easy for people to argue against a mythological welfare queen (a racist trope), it’s much harder to look your kind, hardworking neighbor in the face and tell them they don't deserve the assistance they clearly need. Take it up a notch: Ask people if they would be ok with you streaming their stories. Live stream to social media, or record videos to release in shorter snippets later. Make sure to comply with all state and local laws around recordings.
- Option for people who may not be comfortable with public speaking: Allow people to write down their stories and deliver those stories to the MoC’s office at the end of the event.
- 🪦Public Die-In
Concept: Activists participate in a staged “die-in” on public property, where they lay still on the ground for a specific length of time (or multiple different lengths of time). Create tombstone cutouts with descriptions of the cuts that will impact lives like SNAP, Medicaid, and other essential programs.
- These cuts are going to have real impacts on Americans, and people will die from them: Don’t let the world forget it. Take it up a notch: Have someone eulogize each program as folks are performing the die-in.
- 🍲Hearty meal-share
Concept: Make a big pot of chili, a stew, or any hearty meal to share with passersby with signs like “we believe in helping each other, just like Rep. [Name]."
- Is your MoC in support of keeping vital programs? Are you in a cold state? Does a warm meal help you gear up to get work done? Well, share that meal with your fellow community and remind them that your MoC is fighting to keep feeding those in need while Republicans are taking food out of the mouths of babies.
- 🪑Empty Chair Town Hall
Concept: If your MoC refuses to hold a real town hall, hold one without them. Set up an empty chair labeled with their name or a cardboard cutout of them and have community members speak about the direct impact of Republican policies. Ask the questions you would if the MoC had shown up. Make it visual: Create milk cartons with their face labeled “MISSING” or a cardboard cutout of your MoC.
- For extra credit, invite a Democratic MoC to join you in your district instead.
Note: Congressional ethics guidelines and other guardrails prevent Members of Congress from using their official office, staff, or resources to host their own town hall or similar event in a district other than their own. However, they may attend events in other districts hosted by Indivisible groups or other partners. If your Indivisible group would like to invite an MoC, or any elected official, to attend your event, they must attend in their official or personal capacity. The member should not be invited in their campaign capacity.
Take these ideas and run with them. Use them, or come up with something creative on your own. Remember that our goal is to be big, visible, and clear about our message.
A core principle behind all Indivisible events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.
A Note On Timing:
April recess coincides with several religious holidays across different faiths. Unlike our MAGA counterparts, we continue to be the party of common-sense decency and inclusion. So, please be mindful and respectful of these holidays when planning your events to ensure all members of your community have a chance to voice their opposition to Trump’s horrific plans.
Now in REGISTERING & PROMOTING YOUR EVENT
REGISTERING & PROMOTING YOUR EVENT
📌 Register your event on Mobilize so others in your area can join. You can also check if there’s already an event planned near you—more people means more power.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
📝 Do I need to register an event, or can I just go?
Yes—please register your event! It helps us track how many actions are happening and ensures every MoC feels the pressure. If you want to keep it private, you can mark your event as “invite-only” when creating it.
📢 Will you help me recruit?
We encourage you to take the lead on bringing people together, but posting a public event will allow Indivisible to help spread the word and recruit more attendees.
📞 Do I need to call in advance if I’m going to a District/State Office?
Nope! You can call ahead if you have a relationship with the office, but there’s no requirement to schedule a meeting. If staff tells you they can’t accommodate a visit on short notice, show up anyway. This is urgent, and we don’t have time to wait.
🏛️How should I decide where to hold my event?
Pick somewhere that is both visible and meaningful, like your MoC’s district/state office, town square, city hall, or along a major thoroughfare. But it’s important that any demonstration take place on public property and does not block access to building entrances.
💻 Can I do a virtual event?
This recess, we need in-person actions. However, if you can’t go in person, flood their offices with phone calls. A personal visit is harder to ignore, but calls can still make a huge impact.
👥 There’s already a visit listed for my MoC—should I join that one or start another?
Either works! If you see a scheduled event that fits your availability, join it. But if you can’t make it, organize another action at a time that works for you. Every event adds to the pressure.
If you have any other questions, feel free to send us an email at supportteam@indivisible.org.
