Longest US shutdown in history looms as talks stall over health care

House Speaker Mike Johnson warned on October 13 that the ongoing federal government shutdown could become the longest in U.S. history, insisting he “won’t negotiate” with Democrats until they suspend their health care demands and agree to reopen the government. 

Speaking at the Capitol on the 13th day of the shutdown, Johnson said he had no details on the thousands of federal employees being furloughed by the Trump administration, a move widely seen as an attempt to reduce the scope of government operations during the stalemate.

Vice President JD Vance has described further cuts as “painful,” even as employee unions file lawsuits.

Johnson of Louisiana cautioned that the country is “barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history.” With no resolution in sight, routine government operations remain halted, Smithsonian museums and other cultural landmarks are closed, and airports are struggling with flight disruptions, compounding uncertainty for the economy. 

President Trump ensured that military personnel and the Coast Guard continue to receive pay this week, relieving a major pressure point that might have pushed lawmakers toward compromise. At the core of the shutdown is a dispute over the Affordable Care Act subsidies, which Democrats want extended for millions of Americans purchasing insurance on Obamacare exchanges, while Republicans argue the issue can be addressed later.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticised Republicans for effectively shutting down the chamber for a fourth week, saying “no real negotiations are underway.”

The next potential deadline to reopen the government may come at the end of the month, coinciding with the start of open enrollment on November 1. If Congress fails to renew the subsidies by December 31, Americans could face sharply higher insurance premiums, with the Kaiser Family Foundation estimating that monthly costs could double. Government workers on monthly pay schedules, including thousands of House aides, will miss paychecks at the end of October.

The debate over health care has persisted since the Affordable Care Act became law in 2010. The country experienced a 16-day shutdown in 2013 under Obama when Republicans tried to repeal the law, and Trump’s first-term efforts to “repeal and replace” Obamacare failed in 2017. With 24 million now enrolled in the program, Johnson said Republicans are unlikely to attempt full repeal again, calling the effort a source of “PTSD” from past failures.

Johnson maintained that Republicans are open to discussing health care solutions with Democrats before the subsidies expire, but insists the government must reopen first. The longest shutdown in U.S. history, also under Trump, lasted 35 days in 2019 over funding for the U.S.-Mexico border wall.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues to exercise discretion over who is paid and who is furloughed, drawing criticism from some Republicans and lawsuits from employee unions. The Pentagon tapped $8 billion in unused research and development funds to ensure military personnel are paid, while departments like Education face significant disruptions affecting special education and after-school programs.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, other agencies could continue operations using funds from the 2025 reconciliation act or other mandatory funding sources, allowing selected programs and personnel to remain compensated despite the shutdown.

By Tamilla Hasanova