Federal Shutdown Archives

Speaker Johnson faces an unruly House as lawmakers return for shutdown vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — After refusing to convene the U.S. House during the government shutdown, Speaker Mike Johnson is recalling lawmakers back into session. They are set to consider the bill to reopen the federal government on Wednesday. As hundreds of lawmakers return they are bringing pent-up legislative demands after nearly two months away. There are calls to release the Jeffrey Epstein files and swear-in Arizona’s Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, who won her special election back in September. It’s all a test of the speaker’s leadership and shows the ways he has amassed power alongside President Donald Trump.… Continue Reading

Senate approves bill to end the shutdown, sending it to the House

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed legislation to reopen the government, bringing the longest shutdown in history closer to an end after a small group of Democrats struck a deal with Republicans. The shutdown could last a few more days as members of the House, which has been on recess since mid-September, return to Washington to vote on the legislation. President Donald Trump has signaled support for the bill, saying Monday that “we’re going to be opening up our country very quickly.” The final 60-40 Senate vote broke a grueling stalemate that lasted more than six weeks as Democrats demanded that Republicans negotiate with them to extend health care tax credits. The Republicans never did.… Continue Reading

US airlines cancel more than 2,500 weekend flights largely due to government shutdown

U.S. airlines have canceled more than 2,500 weekend flights mostly because of the government shutdown and the Federal Aviation Administration’s order to reduce air traffic. The slowdown at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports will head into its third day Sunday. So far there have not been any widespread disruptions. FlightAware reports that cancellations jumped Saturday to more than 1,500, following just over 1,000 the previous day. By Saturday evening airlines already had canceled another 1,000-plus Sunday flights.… Continue Reading

Speaker Johnson keeps the House away as he fights to end the government shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — House members’ absence during the government shutdown is creating a political dilemma for Republican Speaker Mike Johnson and is testing his leadership. The Louisiana congressman sent members home three weeks ago, and they haven’t been back in working session since. In the intervening weeks, the government has shut down. President Donald Trump threatened a mass firing of federal workers. And Democrat Adelita Grijalva won a special congressional election in Arizona but has not been sworn in. Johnson says the House already did its job, passing a bill to fund the government. Johnson blames Democrats in the Senate, which is also controlled by Republicans. Democrats want health care funds for insurance subsidies that are set to expire.… Continue Reading

Frustrated lawmakers say lack of trust is making it harder to end the government shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers are openly venting their frustration as they try to gain traction to end the government shutdown. Groups of lawmakers have tried to brainstorm ways out of the standoff that for nine days has shuttered government offices, kept hundreds of thousands of federal employees at home and threatened their pay. But they have found themselves running up against a fundamental lack of trust in each other. President Donald Trump and Republicans have so far held to the stance that they will only negotiate on Democratic demands around health care benefits after they vote to reopen the government.… Continue Reading

Federal government shutdown grinds into a second week, but quiet talks emerging

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the federal government shutdown enters a second week, there’s no discernible endgame in sight. No negotiations, at least publicly, are underway. But signs of political discomfort, and quiet talks, are emerging. The Republicans who have majority control in Congress believe they have the upper hand politically, as they fend off Democratic demands to quickly fund health insurance subsidies as part of any plan to end the shutdown. But Democrats are also dug in, convinced that Americans are on their side in the fight to prevent the looming health care price spikes. Meanwhile, certain lawmakers are discussing what it would take to reopen the government, starting with addressing the health care problem.… Continue Reading

At the center of shutdown fight, health care is one of the most intractable issues in Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats believe health care is an issue that resonates with a majority of Americans as they demand an extension of subsidies in exchange for their votes to reopen the shuttered U.S. government. But it is also one of the most intractable issues in Congress and a real compromise is not likely to be easy. There are some Republicans in Congress who want to extend the higher subsidies, which were first put in place in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. But many GOP lawmakers are firmly opposed to any extension. The government shutdown is in its seventh day and hundreds of thousands of federal workers are going unpaid.… Continue Reading

Speaker Johnson says it’s up to Democrats to ‘stop the madness’ on shutdown’s sixth day

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers are showing few signs of meaningful negotiations to break an impasse on reopening the federal government as the shutdown drags through its sixth day. Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday “there’s nothing for us to negotiate,” while Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says the “time is now” to work out a deal on health care. Meanwhile, the White House clarified President Donald Trump’s remarks Sunday about the firing of federal workers. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was talking about the furloughs happening across the federal government.… Continue Reading