House Speaker Mike Johnson charged Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer with obstructing serious negotiations to avert a government shutdown. Johnson claimed Schumer is refusing to support a proposal that would keep federal operations running, allegedly to appease his left-wing base.
Johnson said the issue came up during a lengthy call with President Trump, describing Schumer’s actions as “selfish political calculation.” He argued that Republicans have repeatedly sought clean funding extensions while Democrats demand far-reaching policy changes.
Johnson also noted previous occasions when Congress passed government-funding bills without dramatic standoffs and said he expected Schumer to do the same, but accused him of breaking that tradition this time.