Photo: Alamy
House Speaker Mike Johnson warned Monday that the ongoing government shutdown could become the longest in U.S. history if the Senate does not approve a House-passed stopgap spending bill.
The federal government entered a shutdown earlier this month after the Senate failed to advance a continuing resolution that would have extended current funding levels through Nov. 21.
“We’re barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history, unless Democrats drop their partisan demands and pass a clean, no-strings-attached budget to reopen the government and pay our federal workers,” Johnson said at a press conference.
He said Republicans are “eager to return to the actual negotiating table to finish out full-year appropriations and do work on all the other matters before us,” but added, “we won’t negotiate in smoke-filled back rooms, and we won’t negotiate as hostages.”
The longest shutdown on record lasted 34 days during President Donald Trump’s first term in 2019. The current shutdown is now in its 14th day, making it the fifth longest.
The funding stalemate stems from a dispute over healthcare spending. Democrats have pushed to restore funding to programs they say were cut by Republicans. Republicans argue that the healthcare funding would also provide services to illegal immigrants.
The Senate is scheduled to hold its next vote on ending debate on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Eastern after not meeting on Monday due to the Columbus Day federal holiday.
President Trump blasted the holdout by Democrats on Saturday in a lengthy Truth Social post.
“Chuck Schumer recently said, ‘Every day gets better’ during their Radical Left Shutdown. I DISAGREE! If nothing is done, because of ‘Leader’ Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th. That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th. We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS,” the president wrote.
“I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown. The Radical Left Democrats should OPEN THE GOVERNMENT, and then we can work together to address Healthcare, and many other things that they want to destroy. Thank you for your attention to this matter! DONALD J. TRUMP PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” he added.
