House Speaker Johnson Blames Schumer Democrats for Government Shutdown

House Speaker Mike Johnson has firmly placed the blame for the ongoing government shutdown on Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and the far-left faction of the Democratic Party. Johnson accuses Schumer of being influenced by progressive members like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and fearful of a primary challenge from a Marxist candidate in New York, leading to a refusal to pass a clean continuing resolution to fund the government. Johnson insists the House has passed bipartisan stopgap funding bills, but Schumer and Senate Democrats are delaying action to extract liberal policy demands, notably on healthcare subsidies tied to Obamacare. He criticizes Democrats for politicizing the shutdown at the expense of federal workers, many of whom are furloughed or working without pay. Despite public calls from Democrats for Republicans to return to negotiations, Johnson defends the GOP's decision to keep the House in recess to pressure the Senate, emphasizing that reopening the government depends solely on Schumer's willingness to cooperate. This standoff threatens to prolong the shutdown with significant impacts on federal employees and government operations.