Republican Speaker Mike Johnson said on Monday the US government shutdown could become the longest in history. He spoke at the Capitol on the 13th day of the closure, warning that he won’t negotiate with Democrats until they pause their health care demands and reopen government. The shutdown has halted federal operations, closed museums and disrupted flights across the country. Thousands of federal workers are being laid off under the Trump administration, a move critics say is aimed at shrinking government.
Standing alone at the Capitol, Johnson said he was unaware of details surrounding the mass layoffs. Vice President JD Vance has called the cuts “painful” as unions sue the administration. Johnson thanked President Donald Trump for ensuring the military and Coast Guard are paid, easing one pressure point. But with Congress divided, no endgame is in sight. The House remains out of session, and the Senate returns on Tuesday, stuck in a deadlock over Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.
HEALTH CARE FIGHT AT THE CORE
At the heart of the shutdown is a fight over Obamacare subsidies. Democrats want the expiring subsidies extended for millions relying on them to buy insurance. Republicans say it can be settled later. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Republicans of abandoning negotiations, saying they’re “nowhere to be found.” The next pressure point looms November 1, when open enrolment begins and Americans risk soaring premiums if Congress doesn’t act.
The shutdown is disrupting education programmes, after-school care, and special education. Government employees on monthly pay schedules, including thousands of House aides, face missed paychecks. The Pentagon has tapped $8 billion in unused funds to keep troops paid, while the Education Department faces deep strain. Johnson admitted the GOP is wary of repeating the 2017 failure to repeal Obamacare, saying the law’s “roots are so deep.”
With 24 million Americans enrolled in Obamacare, Johnson said full repeal is unlikely but insists Democrats must first reopen government before any talks resume. The 2019 shutdown lasted 35 days — and this one, he warned, could surpass it.
– Ends
With inputs from agencies
Tune In