House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has issued a stark warning that the U.S. government shutdown is on track to become one of the longest in history, accusing Democrats of partisan obstruction. Speaking during a Monday press conference, Johnson emphasized that the shutdown, now in its 13th day, would set a dangerous precedent if the Democratic Party did not agree to a clean, bipartisan budget to reopen the government and ensure that federal workers receive their pay.
Johnson referenced former President Barack Obama, recalling a 2013 speech in which Obama noted, “There is one way out of this reckless and damaging Republican shutdown: Congress has to pass a budget that funds our government with no partisan strings attached.” He claimed the quote was directly from Obama, referencing the 16-day government shutdown from 2013, which was the second-longest in U.S. history. Johnson suggested that the current shutdown could become the third-longest in history, underscoring the severity of the situation as the situation continues to escalate with little progress in negotiations.
The government shutdown began on October 1, when Senate Democrats rejected the GOP’s proposed federal funding plan, thereby triggering the shutdown. Since then, Democrats have blocked consideration of the same bill multiple times, with the House having passed a bipartisan resolution on September 19 that extends fiscal year 2025 funding through November 21. However, while the House approved the bill, Democrats remain split over whether the resolution should include an extension of pandemic-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year, further complicating the negotiations.
Johnson criticized the Democrats, suggesting that their stance was creating a dangerous precedent and that without their cooperation, the shutdown could continue to drag into an unmanageable situation. He accused them of being more focused on political posturing than on resolving the crisis, citing the recent escalation of tensions in the House as an example of the dysfunction in Congress.
Meanwhile, the ongoing shutdown has already led to widespread disruptions across the federal government, with many administrative functions being suspended. Essential services, including some national parks, veterans’ benefits, and federal law enforcement agencies, have been affected. Johnson warned that if the impasse continues, the impact on the economy and public trust in government could be significant, adding pressure on both parties to reach a resolution promptly.