An American Republican leader warns that the government shutdown may be the longest in history Politics news

House Speaker Mike Johnson says he won’t negotiate with Democrats until they drop their health care demands.

US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said that the current Government shutdown It could become the longest in history, as the impasse between Democrats and Republicans continues with no end in sight.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Johnson, a Republican, said he would not negotiate with Democratic lawmakers until they suspended policy demands on health care, the dispute at the heart of the shutdown.

“We are headed toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history,” said Johnson, who leads Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives.

The administration of President Donald Trump used the closure, which has entered its thirteenth day, as an excuse to move forward with general isolation measures. A series of cuts and layoffs of workers in government services and agencies, although their legal authority to do so remains disputed.

Trump has made clear that such cuts would target his political rivals, saying last week that he would cut “Democrats’ programs” if the party refused to abandon its demands for health care support.

Recent opinion polls showed that American voters blame Democrats and Republicans Trump himself Almost as much for closing.

Democrats called for extending subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which millions of people in the United States rely on to purchase health care plans.

Republicans said the issue could be addressed after the government reopens, but Democrats expressed doubt that Republicans would honor that pledge.

Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers approved a massive resolution Tax and spending bill This is set to result in the loss of access to healthcare for more than 15 million people.

While the government shut down Routine occurrence In US policy in recent years, it can disrupt or limit access to basic services and force employees to work without pay for indefinite periods of time.

The US Army said over the weekend that it would use unspent funds originally allocated for research and development to ensure military personnel continue to receive their pay.

the Mass layoffs The shutdowns pushed by the Trump administration are a relatively new addition to lockdowns. Vice President J.D. Vance warned there were more “painful” cuts to come, even as government employee unions launched legal challenges against the firings.