On Friday, Democrats expressed strong discontent with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) after he announced the cancellation of yet another week of scheduled House votes amid the escalating government shutdown. This critical development raises significant concerns as the shutdown intensifies, with the Trump administration revealing impending layoffs and military personnel poised to miss their first paycheck on October 15.
Speaker Johnson had previously stated that there would be no standalone vote regarding the payment of military troops. He argued that the House had fulfilled its responsibilities by passing a stopgap spending bill last month, which included provisions for troop pay. "Hakeem Jeffries and the House Democrats are eager to reconvene to vote, as many wish to publicly support troop compensation," Johnson remarked. "However, we already conducted that vote."
In a recent notice to the House Clerk, Johnson declared that all votes scheduled between next Tuesday and Friday are officially canceled. This decision means that the House will not reconvene until at least October 20. Johnson has insisted that the House will only return after the Senate approves the spending bill proposed by House Republicans.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) criticized the Republicans' decision to take a break, stating, "They canceled votes last week, and now they’ve canceled votes for the upcoming week. They are not serious about reopening the government." House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) added, "Showing up for work and assisting constituents is not just for show, as Mike Johnson claims. The government is shut down, yet Johnson prefers his members to be on vacation. It’s disgraceful."
Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) echoed these sentiments, asserting that if Republicans were genuinely concerned, they would engage with their constituents back home. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) lamented that Republicans have no intention of conducting town halls, quipping, "Who’s writing their talking points — Marie Antoinette?"
During a brief pro forma session on Friday, Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.) made an unsuccessful attempt to pass a bill ensuring troop pay during the shutdown. Seeking unanimous consent to move forward, she was ignored by Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), who promptly adjourned the House. Elfreth stated, "I know many of my colleagues are here and ready to discuss this if we cannot reach a bipartisan budget deal."
Lawmakers representing areas near Washington, D.C., particularly those with large federal workforces, are increasingly alarmed. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) expressed her deep concern in a letter to Speaker Johnson about the real consequences of his decision to cancel votes. "This affects thousands of military servicemembers, contractors, and federal workers in my district who continue to fulfill their duties without pay," she stated.
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.) voiced similar concerns, highlighting the struggles faced by servicemembers and federal employees who are grappling with missed paychecks and rising healthcare costs. "Speaker Johnson should be ashamed for canceling votes again," he remarked.
Looking ahead, Jeffries has instructed his members to return to Washington next week, after they had been largely allowed to remain in their districts. House Democrats are set to hold an in-person caucus meeting at the Capitol on Tuesday evening, followed by events on Capitol Hill the next day. Jeffries also underscored polling data indicating that Republicans are being blamed for the shutdown, suggesting that Democrats remain steadfast in their position.
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) noted, "Everyone understands that Democrats are taking a principled stand here. Johnson fears that his members will turn against him if they return to town." This ongoing situation underscores the complexities and challenges facing Congress as it navigates the repercussions of the ongoing government shutdown.
