WASHINGTON, D.C. Nov 7, 2025 – House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) unleashed a sharp rebuke against Senate Democrats Friday, accusing them of prolonging a month-long government shutdown out of fear of backlash from their “angry America-hating radicals,” leaving millions of federal workers unpaid and essential services in limbo. Speaking at a Capitol Hill press conference marking Day 37 of the impasse, Johnson framed the standoff as a clear choice for Democrats: side with party extremists or prioritize “hardworking Americans.”
“Let’s be honest — Democrats have marched their party straight off a cliff with no parachute, no plan, and no path forward,” Johnson declared in remarks captured on Fox News and shared widely on X, where the clip amassed over 26,000 views in hours. “The proof is right in front of us. Senate Democrats won’t vote to reopen the government because their radical base will accuse them of ‘caving.’ But if they keep it shut down, millions of Americans will keep suffering.”
The shutdown, now stretching into its sixth week, stems from a partisan clash over expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies—enhanced tax credits set to lapse at year’s end, potentially spiking premiums for 21 million Americans. House Republicans, fresh off passing a series of “clean” continuing resolutions to fund the government without ACA extensions, insist Democrats are using the crisis for leverage on health care. The Senate, where Republicans hold a slim 53-47 majority, requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, forcing bipartisan buy-in that’s eluded lawmakers since the impasse began in early October.
Johnson, flanked by GOP colleagues including Reps. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) and others from the Republican Governance Group, emphasized the human toll during the briefing. “If they vote to reopen the government, the Senate Democrats are afraid that the radicals in their party will say that they caved,” he said. “They’re afraid of retribution. But if they keep [it] shut down, they know very well… that millions of Americans will continue to suffer as essential services remain unfunded and paychecks to federal workers continue [to be withheld].”
The fallout has rippled nationwide: Airlines reported over 1,900 flight delays or cancellations Thursday alone due to furloughed air traffic controllers and TSA screeners working without pay. Food assistance programs like SNAP face disruptions for 42 million recipients, and national parks remain shuttered, stranding tourists and local economies. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) renewed calls Friday for passage of Sen. Ron Johnson’s (R-Wis.) amended “Shutdown Fairness Act,” which would guarantee back pay for all federal workers, including the 800,000 deemed “essential” but unpaid.
Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have doubled down on demands to “nuke the filibuster” to ram through priorities like voter ID laws and welfare restrictions for immigrants, with Trump warning on Truth Social that without it, “we can pass NOTHING.” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) echoed the sentiment, slamming Democrats for “bragging they’re in a ‘strong position’” while “taking food from 42 million Americans” and grounding flights. GOP leaders are now prepping a bipartisan spending package of mini-bills to avert deeper cuts, hoping to peel off moderate Democrats without conceding on ACA subsidies.
Democrats, however, paint the blockade as a Republican ploy to gut health care protections. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has floated a one-year ACA extension tied to a short-term funding bill, but House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris (R-Md.) dismissed it as an “absurd offer,” with the Republican Study Committee—representing 189 members—labeling it a “nonstarter.” Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) fired back at Johnson’s overtures, calling his suggestion to treat ACA fixes as a “December problem” a “lie,” noting open enrollment begins next month. “You can’t kick the can on health care. This could be solved… in an afternoon,” Warner said.
Freshman Senate Democrats are pushing a discharge petition to force a floor vote on the health care measure, bypassing GOP leadership. Yet some Democrats are weighing extending the shutdown into December to extract concessions, sensing Republican fractures as holiday travel chaos mounts.
Reactions on X poured in swiftly after Johnson’s post, splitting along partisan lines. Supporters like @prater3411 urged, “Why aren’t they Nuking the filibuster like POTUS said to do. It’s a no brainer,” while @AmericanVoiceX added, “GOP has NO chance if Democrats win again. Go NUCLEAR on the filibuster.” Critics, including @Giffytube101, fired back: “Mike Johnson the Republicans basically have control over everything and you still can’t do shit this is your fault.” One viral exchange highlighted airport frustrations, with a Trump supporter clapping back at a critic blaming the delays on the president: “From where I’m standing it’s the democrats who are holding the country hostage.”
As Thanksgiving approaches, the shutdown’s shadow looms larger, with economists warning of a potential 0.5% GDP hit if unresolved. Johnson ended his remarks with a direct challenge: “Our question for Democrats this morning is this: Which constituency matters more? The loud radicals in your party or the hard-working American people?” With Senate Democrats digging in and House Republicans eyeing recess next week, the parachute Johnson invoked may remain out of reach—for now.
