US shutdown could become the longest in history, warns Speaker Johnson

The United States is heading toward what could be the longest government shutdown in its history, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson warned on Monday, as negotiations between Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked over healthcare.

Johnson, a Republican, told reporters he wouldn’t sit down with Democrats until they dropped policy demands related to healthcare subsidies, the central issue behind the impasse.

“We’re barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history,” he said.

Now in its 13th day, the shutdown has paralyzed parts of the federal government, and the Trump administration appears to be using it as cover for sweeping cuts and layoffs. President Donald Trump has openly said those cuts will target his political opponents, vowing last week to trim “Democrat programmes” unless the party backs down on healthcare funding.

The Smithsonian Institution, which operates 21 museums, research centres, and the National Zoo, announced Sunday it was closing its doors after losing access to federal funds. About 62 percent of its budget depends on government support.

Recent polls show Americans are split on who’s to blame, Democrats, Republicans, and Trump himself share the frustration equally, according to surveys.

Democrats are pushing to extend healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, saying millions rely on them to afford coverage. Republicans, meanwhile, argue the debate can continue once the government reopens, a promise Democrats say they don’t trust.

Earlier this year, Republicans passed a sweeping tax and spending bill that analysts say could strip healthcare access from more than 15 million Americans.

Shutdowns have become a grim ritual of US politics, but this one is different in tone, more ideological, more personal, and more uncertain in its outcome. With workers unpaid and agencies frozen, the political standoff in Washington has again become a test of how far each side is willing to push before the system itself starts to crack.