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• The House Speaker accuses the Democratic Party of
worsening the economic suffering of workers as the Trump administration
prepares new budget cuts.
Washington, D.C. – Amid the prolonged partial shutdown of
the federal government, House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday pointed the finger
directly at Democrats as responsible for the economic and social impact facing
millions of Americans.
“The 27th means it’s almost been a full month since the
Democrats shut down the government,” Johnson declared, emphasizing that the
situation “has created real suffering” among public sector workers. “As we
approach the end of this month, the pain felt by so many working people across
the country is tangible and worsening every day,” he added.
The Republican lawmaker accompanied his remarks with data on
the financial impact of the shutdown: 1.4 million federal employees did not
receive their full pay last week. Of these, a significant portion are on
temporary suspension, while others continue to work as essential workers,
unpaid until government operations are restored.
Johnson's remarks came as President Donald Trump and his
team, led by the director of the Office of the Budget, were moving forward with
reviewing federal programs susceptible to cuts, as part of a strategy to reduce
spending and pressure Democrats in budget negotiations.
The government shutdown—which has now lasted nearly a
month—has paralyzed multiple federal agencies, affecting essential services and
delaying payments, subsidies, and administrative procedures. As negotiations
remain stalled in Congress, the exchange of accusations between both parties is
intensifying.
From the House of Representatives, Johnson reiterated that
Republicans "have presented responsible alternatives to reopen the
government" and that the Democrats' refusal is driven by "political
interests rather than the well-being of citizens." Democratic Party
spokespersons, for their part, have countered that the shutdown was a product
of Republican intransigence and their attempts to impose drastic cuts to social
programs.
With the month drawing to a close and no sign of an imminent
agreement, the government shutdown threatens to drag on, amplifying the
economic effects on households, small businesses, and federal agencies across
the country.