Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana issued a stern warning as the government shutdown entered its thirteenth day. He urged Democrats to drop their demands and approve a clean budget to reopen the government and pay federal employees.
During a press conference on Monday, Johnson cautioned that the nation was heading toward one of the longest shutdowns in history. He said Democrats must agree to pass a short-term funding bill without additional policy conditions.
“We’re barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history,” Johnson said. “Democrats must stop the obstruction and help us reopen the government.”
The government shutdown began on October 1 after Senate Democrats rejected the GOP’s proposed funding plan. Since then, Democrats have blocked the same bill six more times, demanding broader negotiations that include health care provisions.
Johnson highlighted the irony of the situation by quoting former President Barack Obama’s 2013 remarks during a previous shutdown. “Those are not my words,” Johnson said. “They belong to President Obama, who urged Congress to fund the government without partisan strings attached.”
He noted that the ongoing 2025 shutdown has already become the fifth-longest in U.S. history. If the stalemate continues, it could surpass the 21-day shutdown under President Bill Clinton in 1996.
The longest shutdown on record lasted 35 days during President Donald Trump’s first term, followed by the 21-day standoff under Clinton. Johnson warned that if talks remain stalled, the current situation could soon reach that scale.
House Republicans recently passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through November 21. The short-term measure aims to extend fiscal year 2025 spending levels while negotiators work toward a broader 2026 budget.
The bill includes $88 million in additional security funding for lawmakers, the White House, and the judiciary. It passed the House along mostly party lines, though Johnson said it reflected a good-faith effort to keep the government operating.
Democrats, however, argue that the GOP excluded them from budget discussions. They are now demanding an extension of Obamacare subsidies set to expire at year’s end. Senate Democrats insist that any funding deal must include protections for health care coverage and support for lower-income families.
As negotiations drag on, hundreds of thousands of federal employees remain unpaid, and public services are increasingly disrupted. Economists warn that a prolonged government shutdown could slow growth and weaken public confidence.
Johnson said the House remains ready to act if Democrats “choose governing over politics.” But with both chambers locked in stalemate, the path to reopening the government remains uncertain.
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