House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday placed blame for the ongoing government shutdown squarely on Senate Democrats, criticizing their rejection of a short-term Republican spending bill. Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, Johnson said the House had already passed a bipartisan continuing resolution to fund the government for seven weeks, but accused Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of blocking the measure for political reasons.

Johnson emphasized the real-world impacts of the shutdown, noting disruptions to key federal programs like health services for veterans and seniors, FEMA’s flood insurance during hurricane season, and the WIC nutrition program. He urged Democrats in the Senate to “come to their senses” and act to reopen the government.

Rejecting Democrats’ linking of the shutdown to extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, Johnson called that a “red herring” and insisted that reforms addressing “fraud, waste, and abuse” must come first. He said the issue could be debated later but stressed the need to restore government operations immediately.

When pressed about his stance on extending health care tax credits, Johnson avoided a direct answer, saying his priority is building consensus among House members to end the shutdown. Later on NBC’s Meet the Press, he condemned potential federal layoffs during the shutdown, calling them “regrettable” but blaming Democrats for the impasse.

Meanwhile, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth blamed Schumer for the standoff, accusing him of prioritizing politics over national defense. Hegseth warned the shutdown threatens military readiness, emphasizing the need to fund ongoing operations.

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