House Speaker Mike Johnson continues to hold firm on his strategy of keeping the House out of session indefinitely, despite growing pressure from within his own party. The House remains shut down as Republicans push for Senate Democrats to pass a stopgap funding bill, which was approved by the House three weeks ago. GOP Rep. Kevin Kiley, a member of Johnson’s leadership team, has criticized the shutdown as ’embarrassing,’ stating that the government remains closed, and Americans are losing access to critical services. Kiley argues that the House should be in session to resolve the issue, rather than remaining in recess. Some lawmakers, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, have called for a standalone bill to pay troops during the shutdown to ensure they receive their paychecks by October 15.
Johnson, however, remains resolute in his decision to keep the House out of session, arguing that the House should remain in recess until Senate Democrats act on the funding resolution. He acknowledges that emotions are running high and some of his own members may be upset, but he asserts that it is better for the House to remain separated. This stance has sparked tension within the GOP, as some members, including Reps. Jay Obernolte and Julie Fedorchak, have warned of the political fallout of maintaining the shutdown. Despite these concerns, Johnson has advised Republicans to tell voters that they have done their job and now the responsibility lies with Senate Democrats.
There are also growing concerns within the GOP about the potential impact of the shutdown on the military. While some Republicans, including Rep. John Rutherford, argue that the House should remain in session to address the funding issue, others, like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, have criticized Johnson’s strategy, aligning with Democrats’ focus on an impending health care crisis. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has publicly vowed not to let troops go unpaid, and White House officials are considering how to shift funds to ensure paychecks are issued by October 15. Some Senate Republicans, including Rep. Mike Bost, have expressed support for the administration’s efforts, though they remain frustrated with the Senate’s inaction.