Mike Johnson pressured Chuck Schumer, shutting down the house

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., canceled votes in the House of Representatives for the fourth week in a row. Government shutdown There are no signs of ending.

Johnson’s move drew criticism from Senate Democrats and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y. The continued pressure is part of a strategy against Trump, who has sunk the GOP’s federal funding plan 12 times since Sept. 19, when the House passed the measure.

September 19 was also the last day of the House session, meaning lawmakers have been in their home districts for more than a month.

Republican Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Spending Level Nov. 21 are seeking to extend until, which is intended to give congressional negotiators time to hammer out a long-term deal for FY2026.

Hakeem Jeffries, Mike Lawler Screaming Match Erupts As Government Shutdown Chaos Continues

House Speaker Mike Johnson, right, is canceling House votes to pressure Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, left, for refusing to agree to a GOP-led plan to avert a government shutdown. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg Getty Images; Tassos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Democrats are furious at being sidelined in the federal funding debate withholding their support For any spending bill that does not extend the COVID-19 pandemic-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies that expire later this year.

Johnson’s decision was made public during a brief pro forma session in the House on Friday afternoon. Under the rules set by the constitution, the chamber must meet for brief periods of a few days called “pro forma” sessions to ensure continuity, even when there is no formal legislative matter.

Pro forma sessions can also be an opportunity for lawmakers to give brief speeches or introduce legislation they don’t have.

Democrats have criticized Johnson’s decision, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y. told reporters that House Republicans “have been on vacation for the last four weeks.”

The government is in shutdown after Congress failed to reach an agreement on federal funding. (Getty Images)

Republicans, however, have remained largely united behind Johnson as the shutdown continues.

But there have been many notable defections. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif. and Marjorie Taylor Green, R-Ga. Both have publicly criticized Johnson’s strategy for weeks.

“I strongly believe it’s the wrong decision,” Kiley told MSNBC earlier this week, adding that House lawmakers “are not doing everything we’re doing” except figuring out how to end the shutdown.

Battleground Republicans held the line as Johnson pressed for a shutdown

Rep appearing in August 2023. Kevin Kiley criticizes Johnson’s shutdown policy. (Scott Strazzante-Pool/Getty Images)

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Several House lawmakers have expressed concern about Johnson’s stay out of session on private weekly calls with members of the GOP conference.

Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, was the most recent House Republican to suggest the GOP could be in a stronger position if she returns to Washington, Fox News Digital was told.

“I think the longer we’re out there, the more the messaging is starting to get old,” Van Duyne told fellow House Republicans on his Tuesday call.