'Not accurate': Mike Johnson hit with swift fact-check on shutdown

CNN anchor Jake Tapper fact-checked House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Thursday's edition of "The Lead" about a key claim Johnson and other Republicans have made about the ongoing government shutdown.

"The democrats keep deciding tokeep the government shut down; they are forcing theadministration to triage federalspending," Johnson said. "Why? Because they haveturned off the funding streams,Jake. That is what's happened.They can make this stopimmediately."

Republicans have tried to blame Democrats for the shutdown even though Republicans have control of the House, Senate, and White House. Tapper pushed back on Johnson's assertion.

"That's not really quiteaccurate," Tapper said. "I mean, Russ Vought istaking this opportunity to fireworkers because they want toreduce the size of the federalworkforce. None of these peopleare being paid anyway. It's notas though these furloughedworkers are sapping up budget.They're not being paid. This isan opportunity by Russ Vought toshrink government, as he hasoutlined in Project 2025 andother places."

Johnson stammered before answering that the furloughed workers would get back pay once the government reopens. President Donald Trump has claimed to be on the fence about whether furloughed workers should get paid once they return.