House GOP leaders urge unity in shutdown canceled-votes strategy

Source: The Hill

10/04/25 12:49 PM ET


House Republican leaders urged unity in their shutdown fight against Democrats on a call with GOP members Saturday morning, with members on the call backing up Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) move to cancel previously-scheduled votes next week as they aim to pressure Senate Democrats into accepting their “clean” seven-week funding bill.

There is some wiggle room in the schedule, though, if senators strike a deal that requires the House to return to Washington and pass a compromise. Leaders said they will give at least 48 hours notice before calling members back, according to sources on the call.

But as of now, Republicans believe they have the upper hand in the funding fight, and have no reason to bring House members back to Washington and distract from the action in the Senate. “The House will come back into session and do its work as soon as [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer ([D-N.Y.)] allows us to reopen the government,” Johnson said in a press conference on Friday.

The government is set to remain shut down into next week, as Senate Democrats on Friday voted for the fourth time against a House-passed, “clean” continuing resolution to fund the government through Nov. 21. Democrats have offered a counter-proposal, which has also repeatedly failed, as they press Republicans to negotiate on health care policy like extending the Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies that expire at the end of the year. Republicans have said they will not negotiate on the health care subsidies until the government is open.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5538815-house-gop-unity-shutdown-fight/