Government shutdown could be the longest ever, House Speaker Johnson warns

[Dulcinea]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson predicted Monday the federal government shutdown may become the longest in history, saying he “won’t negotiate” with Democrats until they hit pause on their health care demands and reopen.

Standing alone at the Capitol on the 13th day of the shutdown, the speaker said he was unaware of the details of the thousands of federal workers being fired by the Trump administration. It’s a highly unusual mass layoff widely seen as way to seize on the shutdown to reduce the scope of government. Vice President JD Vance has warned of “painful” cuts ahead, even as employee unions sue.

“We’re barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history,” Johnson of Louisiana said.

With no endgame in sight, the shutdown is expected to roll on for the unforeseeable future. The closure has halted routine government operations, shuttered Smithsonian museums and other landmark cultural institutions and left airports scrambling with flight disruptions, all injecting more uncertainty into an already precarious economy.

https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-obamacare-republicans-democrats-b6b59cae2ec28b39e57fbb703704f46a

[Lovie777]

1. And it's on the GQP.....

[lostincalifornia]

2. Except the GOP could end this immediate with two options. 1. Actually meet with Democrats

and extend the ACA subsidies, and restore the Medicaid cuts, or 2. if they want they have the power to get rid of the filibuster.

What are they afraid of?

I suspect in regard to getting rid of the filibuster they are afraid of turnabout if the Democrats get control of Congress again. I don't understand why though, since the filibuster has pretty much been eliminated for most everything anyway.

[durablend]

5. "What are they afraid of? "

cough...EPSTEIN....cough

[lostincalifornia]

7. +++

[no_hypocrisy]

3. The closing theoretically could be indefinite.

1. TSF has already proved that Congress isn't necessary to pass laws or to finance the government.

2. Can't release the Epstein files without Congress.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Good

Seriously.

If VP Vogt is going to permanently fire ANY government agency employees . . . then there is no government to re-open.

It can stay closed until January 2027.

[COL Mustard]

9. Problem is, for current Feds who are retirement eligible...

There is no one to process the retirement packages that we submit, and retirements aren't being run through the system right now. Also, since we are in a lapse of appropriations, the accrued leave we are due can't be paid out until this is all resolved. What a clusterfuck.

[oldmanlynn]

6. I think Republicans are wanting to get to the point where the court system quits

At that point there will be nobody and no courts to stop them and so I know the courts haven’t quit yet because the government shut down but that’s just right around the corner. That’s what I believe is the angle they’re trying to get to then they can do whatever they want to while the courts can’t and won’t do anything.

[mdbl]

8. Don't pay Johnson any money until it reopens

I know, a pipe dream.

[COL Mustard]

10. Unfortunately Congress, the President and political appointees like Vought and Miller

Get paid regardless. It's only us peasants who lose money, although we're supposed to get back pay when there is an appropriation.

[wiggs]

11. That tells me he's about to cave. nt