FILE-A closed sign is seen around the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden on the National Mall on October 12, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson thinks the federal government shutdown may not end anytime soon.
“We’re barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history,” Johnson said.
RELATED: Sweeping layoffs ‘have begun’ as government shutdown drags on
Johnson made the comments Monday adding that he doesn’t intend to negotiate with Democrats on their health care demands to reopen the government, the Associated Press reported.
How long has the government shutdown been?
Why you should care:
The government shutdown enters its 13th day on Tuesday, and the closure has stopped government operations and impacted airports with flight cancellations and disruptions.
Now, Congress and the White House disagree on terms to end the shutdown, but the Associated Press reported that some are eyeing the end of October as the next possible deadline to reopen the government.
RELATED: Military and Coast Guard members getting paid Oct. 15 despite government shutdown
The government shutdown in part is a debate between legislators over health care policy, specifically the Affordable Care Act subsidies that are expiring for millions of Americans who rely on government aid to purchase their own health insurance policies on the Obamacare exchanges.
According to the AP, Democrats are pushing for the subsidies to be extended, but Republicans contend that this matter can be addressed later.
Meanwhile, open enrollment starts Nov. 1 for the health program and people may have to pay higher insurance premiums if Congress doesn’t renew the subsidy payments that expire Dec. 31.
The AP reported that Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson asserts that his party is willing to discuss the health care issue with Democrats this fall before the subsidies expire at the end of the year. But Johnson told the AP that Democrats must agree to reopen the government.
According to FOX Business, the federal government has experienced 20 shutdowns since 1976.
The longest shutdown in U.S. history happened when a debate over funding President Donald Trump’s border wall stopped government operations for 34 days, from December 2018 into January 2019.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by FOX Business and the Associated Press, which cites comments from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.
