Johnson holds firm on shutdown strategy as House GOP grows nervous

Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., seems to be sticking to his technique of pressuring Senate Democrats to agree to finish the federal government shutdown, he indicated in each private and non-private feedback Thursday.

However at the same time as he and Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D. proceed with their plans, some Republican Get together lawmakers are rising nervous in regards to the attainable penalties.

Republicans within the Home of Representatives held a non-public dialog on Thursday through which Johnson knowledgeable them in regards to the present state of affairs. And whereas Republican lawmakers have been largely united behind their chief, Fox Information Digital was advised, a number of expressed considerations in regards to the optics of the Home of Representatives and Senate because the shutdown heads right into a tenth day.

Johnson had earlier canceled votes within the Home of Representatives this week to attract nationwide consideration to Democrats’ opposition to the Republican Get together’s plan to fund the federal government.

SENATE GOP OPPOSES ‘NUCLEAR OPTION’ AS DEM SHUTDOWN STANDOFF DEEPENS

As lawmakers debate an extension of presidency funding, Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., awaits the arrival of Orthodox Christian Church chief Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the Capitol in Washington on Sept. 17, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Picture)

The speaker advised Home Republicans he would give them 48 hours’ discover earlier than the subsequent Home vote, however didn’t say when that will be, Fox Information Digital was advised — after publicly stating a number of instances that their return would rely on Democrats within the Senate.

He mentioned on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Wednesday: “Quickly [Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.] decides to cease taking part in video games, we’ll convey everybody again right here and go proper again to the common session.”

However no less than three Republicans within the Home of Representatives are calling for the chamber to return subsequent week no matter whether or not the shutdown is resolved or not, together with two on Thursday’s name.

Reps. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., and Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., each spoke in favor of returning subsequent week, sources advised Fox Information Digital.

SENATE Democrats Defy White Home Warnings, Once more Block GOP Bid to Reopen Authorities

Obernolte advised Johnson that the Home had extra work to do than spending payments, including, “None of that’s occurring,” Fox Information Digital was advised.

“I feel we will get to a degree the place it is dangerous to maintain the Home out of session. I feel we’re at that time,” Obernolte mentioned, talking to Fox Information Digital.

Fedorchak mentioned she believed Republicans within the Home of Representatives could be in a greater strategic place in the event that they have been in D.C., sources mentioned.

However Johnson reiterated his 48-hour pledge, saying a recess subsequent week was not a “final name” however declaring that almost all Republicans within the Home of Representatives thought it was the best determination, sources mentioned.

Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., give reporters an replace after their in-person assembly with President Donald Trump and Republican leaders, on the Capitol in Washington, September 29, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Picture)

In the meantime, Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., made his considerations public on Wednesday, writing on

Throughout Thursday’s name, Johnson additionally indicated he wouldn’t maintain an unbiased vote on protecting the army paid in the course of the shutdown, sources mentioned.

The speaker argued it was a push led by Democrats looking for political cowl regardless of rejecting the Republican Get together’s funding plan — which might maintain the army paid and your complete authorities open till no less than Nov. 21.

Because it stands, energetic obligation army personnel are thought of “important” and should proceed to work, but when the shutdown continues, they might miss their subsequent paycheck on October 15.

“The entire authorities must be reopened on the similar time,” Johnson mentioned, sources advised Fox Information Digital.

However that has additionally been met with some concern by Home lawmakers.

Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., who’s main a invoice to make sure troops are paid throughout a shutdown, wrote Wednesday on earned.”

In the meantime, two different Republicans within the Home of Representatives — Reps. John Rutherford, R-Fla., and Tom Barrett, R-Mich. — expressed concern throughout lawmakers’ name Thursday in regards to the Senate GOP’s failure to fully bypass Democrats to reopen the federal government.

Underneath present Senate guidelines, most laws should meet a 60-vote threshold to beat a filibuster and permit debate.

However a number of exceptions have been made in fashionable instances, attributable to the Senate majority chief, with the foundations being modified to decrease the brink to 51 votes on sure points. Senate Republicans final used it earlier this yr to beat Democrats’ blockade on President Donald Trump’s nominees.

Nevertheless, the federal funding laws nonetheless wants 60 votes, one thing Rutherford and Barrett say the Senate ought to think about altering.

Rutherford particularly warned that he was involved that Republicans could possibly be uncovered to “unhealthy information” if the Senate doesn’t use the so-called “nuclear choice” to make sure the army is paid on time, when it was so not too long ago used for presidential candidates.

Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., talks to reporters outdoors the West Wing of the White Home, Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington, as Home Speaker Mike Johnson of La. listens. (Alex Brandon/AP Picture)

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As chief of the Home of Representatives, Johnson has no say in what the Senate does. However he answered the same query throughout a Q&A with People on C-SPAN Thursday morning.

“The filibuster is a convention there that folks on each side cherish, and the reason being for those who blow that up and also you go nuclear with one thing like a CR, their argument is you’d be opening Pandora’s field,” Johnson mentioned.

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“What if the socialists take over the Senate, and the democratic socialists are in cost, they usually wish to develop a authorities to take over the technique of manufacturing, they usually haven’t any ensures there, they usually might do it subsequent time with a naked minimal majority?”

The federal government shutdown is about to enter a tenth day on Friday after Senate Democrats rejected the Republican Get together’s funding plan for the seventh time.

Republicans are pushing for a short-term extension of fiscal yr 2025 funding ranges, a so-called persevering with decision (CR), to offer lawmakers extra time to succeed in an settlement on fiscal yr 2026 spending ranges.

However Democrats, livid at being sidelined within the discussions, are demanding severe well being care concessions in trade for his or her help for a spending deal.