🚨 Speaker Mike Johnson Blasts Schumer Over Shutdown Fallout: “1.4 Million Federal Workers Missed Paychecks — Because of Democrats”

A visibly frustrated House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) issued his sharpest rebuke yet against Senate Democrats on Monday, confirming that 1.4 million federal employees have officially missed an entire paycheck due to the ongoing government shutdown — and laying the blame squarely at the feet of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Standing before reporters in the Capitol, Johnson unleashed a fiery series of statements accusing Schumer and Senate Democrats of intentionally prolonging the shutdown to score political points against Republicans.

“Every Republican in Congress wants to stop this madness!” Johnson declared, raising his voice. “We’ve voted 13 times to reopen the government. Thirteen times! And each time, Democrats have blocked it.”

According to the Speaker, the House has already passed multiple continuing resolutions (CRs) to fund government operations — only to see them die in the Senate due to a lack of bipartisan support.

“We have no ability to do this on our own,” Johnson said. “We need 60 votes in the Senate. We only have 53. Democrats are the ones repeatedly shutting down the government — and then blaming us for it.”

🔹 Millions Feel the Pain

The fallout is now being felt nationwide. As Johnson spoke, reports emerged of federal employees — from TSA agents to postal workers — turning to food banks and relief programs to make ends meet while pay remains frozen.

Local charities in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland confirmed a spike in demand, echoing scenes reminiscent of the 2019 shutdown.

“These are hardworking Americans who just want to do their jobs,” Johnson said. “They shouldn’t be caught in the middle of this political game.”

🔹 Republicans Accuse Democrats of “Manufactured Crisis”

GOP leaders argue that Senate Democrats have used the shutdown to shift public blame toward House Republicans, despite the lower chamber repeatedly passing funding measures.

“They spend most of their time trying to distract people from the simple truth,” Johnson continued. “They keep saying Republicans are in charge of government. We aren’t in the Senate!”

Republicans insist that the Senate has voted 12 times to block proposals that would temporarily reopen key departments and pay federal employees, citing Johnson’s count.

“They’ll have another chance today or tomorrow,” the Speaker said grimly. “Let’s see if they finally care enough about the American people to vote yes.”

🔹 Democrats Fire Back

Democrats, however, have accused Johnson of refusing to compromise on spending cuts and social policy riders, which they claim have made Republican bills “non-starters” in the Senate.

A senior Democratic aide to Schumer responded late Monday, saying:

“Speaker Johnson could end this shutdown tonight if he agreed to a clean funding bill. Instead, he’s holding federal workers hostage to appease the far-right wing of his conference.”

The White House also released a statement urging Congress to “end the chaos” and “fund the government without extreme conditions.”

🔹 The Clock Keeps Ticking

As the standoff enters its fifth week, the political and economic damage continues to mount. Analysts warn that an extended shutdown could drag down quarterly growth and delay critical services, from food inspections to veterans’ benefits.

Both chambers are expected to hold additional votes this week — but with negotiations frozen and rhetoric escalating, optimism remains low.

For millions of federal workers, the wait for their next paycheck has turned into a symbol of Washington’s dysfunction.

And for Speaker Johnson, the message could not be clearer:

“We’re doing our job. It’s time for the Senate Democrats to do theirs.”