Speaker Mike Johnson is canceling House votes for a third straight week in a bid to put pressure on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer during the government shutdown. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo; Allison Robbert/AP Photo)
Democrats, furious at being sidelined in federal funding discussions, have been withholding their support for any spending bill that does not also extend COVID-19 pandemic-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies that are due to expire at the end of this year.
Johnson's decision was made public on Friday afternoon during a brief pro forma session in the House. Under rules dictated by the Constitution, the chamber must meet for brief periods every few days called "pro forma" sessions to ensure continuity, even if there are no formal legislative matters at hand.
Pro forma sessions can also be opportunities for lawmakers to give brief speeches or introduce legislation that they otherwise would not have.
Johnson's decision comes after he canceled votes on Sept. 29 and Sept. 30 in an effort to press the Senate to take up the House's CR. He canceled votes the following week as well.
The House GOP leader told fellow Republicans on a private call Thursday that he would give them 48 hours' notice before they needed to return to Washington.
SENATE ADVANCES 2026 DEFENSE BILL AFTER WEEKS OF DELAY AS SHUTDOWN DRAGS ON
Rep. Mike Lawler is seen confronting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on the eighth day of the government shutdown, Oct. 8, 2025. (Elizabeth Elkind/Fox News Digital)
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But tensions ran high among the few lawmakers who were in Washington this week, with two Senate Democrats confronting Johnson and Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., getting into a screaming match with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., over Obamacare subsidies.
Asked about the conflicts, Johnson suggested it was part of the reason House lawmakers should remain out of Washington until the shutdown ends.
"I'm a very patient man. But I am very angry right now because this is dangerous stuff. And so, is it better for them to be physically separated right now? It probably is," he said on Thursday.
"Frankly, I wish that weren't the case. But we do have to turn the volume down. The best way to turn the volume down is to turn the lights back on and get the government open for the people."
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/johnson-raises-stakes-schumer-government-shutdown-barrels-week-3