Speaker Johnson warns government shutdown is on track to be longest in history

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday warned Democrats that the ongoing government shutdown is on track to become the longest shutdown in American history if the Senate does not pass the House-passed continuing resolution.

The government entered the latest shutdown earlier this month after the Senate failed to pass a continuing resolution that would keep the government operational at its previous funding level until Nov. 21. 

“We’re barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history, unless Democrats drop their partisan demands and pass a clean, no-strings-attached budget to reopen the government and pay our federal workers,” Johnson told reporters at a press conference. “Republicans are eager to return to the actual negotiating table to finish out full-year appropriations and do work on all the other matters before us, but we won’t negotiate in smoke-filled back rooms, and we won’t negotiate as hostages."

The current record is 34 days, which occurred during President Donald Trump's first term in 2019. The ongoing government shutdown is on its 13th day, making it the fifth-longest shutdown on record, according to Time magazine. 

The standoff over federal funding comes after Democrats have insisted they want to restore funding to healthcare programs that they say Republicans cut. The next vote on ending debate on the legislation will take place Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Eastern. The Senate will skip votes on Monday because of the federal holiday, Columbus Day.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.