House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana warned on Monday that the ongoing government shutdown could soon become one of the longest in U.S. history if Democrats continue to reject the GOP-backed proposal to reopen the government.
“We’re heading straight toward one of the longest shutdowns America has ever seen unless Democrats put aside their partisan demands and pass a straightforward, clean budget that restores government operations and ensures federal employees are paid,” Johnson said during a press conference marking the 13th day of the funding lapse.
For nearly two weeks, Congress has remained deadlocked over how to end the standoff. Democrats are pushing for Republicans to address key health care provisions, including extensions of Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire at the end of the year. Republican leaders, however, insist that negotiations on those policies can only happen once the government is reopened. They continue to urge the Senate to approve the House’s stopgap spending bill passed in September — a bill that has failed to clear the Senate seven times.
With the impasse now stretching into its second week, the shutdown is already among the longest in recent history. The most prolonged federal closure occurred between December 2018 and January 2019 under President Trump, lasting 35 days. Before that, the 1995-96 shutdown during President Clinton’s administration lasted 21 days. Other notable shutdowns include a 17-day closure under President Obama in 2013 and another 17-day lapse during President Carter’s term in 1978.
Johnson emphasized that Republicans remain ready to negotiate broader spending bills for the fiscal year but will not do so under what he described as “political coercion.” “Republicans want to get back to real negotiations to complete the appropriations process and move forward on the other major issues facing the nation,” he said. “But we’re not going to make deals behind closed doors or negotiate under hostage-style tactics.”
As the shutdown drags on, pressure is mounting on both parties to reach a compromise, with federal workers and critical government services caught in the middle of the stalemate.