Many House Republicans have remained out of town amid the shutdown. Johnson has stated in interviews that the House has no reason to return, having already passed a continuing resolution to fund the government. The issue, he noted, lies in the Senate's need to pass his bill.
Reps. Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) were the vocal Republicans on the call who wanted members to come back to work next week.
“I think we’re gonna get to a point where it’s damaging to continue to keep the House out of session,” Obernolte said on the call, according to the report. “I think we’ve gotten to that point.”
He argued that it makes House Republicans look as if they are “prioritizing politics over government,” the report continued.
The shutdown, which has already led to widespread freezing of funding for federal projects, comes amid sweeping budget cuts from President Trump and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought. The latter announced he was specifically targeting blue and purple state funds allocated through legislation years ago for green energy projects. It led to allegations of political retribution from Democratic lawmakers, Politico reported.
That, along with the shutdown and new argument of healthcare costs, is making some in the GOP anxious about consequences. Although states like Colorado and California voted against Trump last year, they still have a significant number of Republican members of Congress who must run for reelection in 2026.
Early polling indicates that voters largely blame Trump and Republicans for the shutdown, though a significant portion also holds both sides accountable, according to NBC News.
Meanwhile, the GOP House caucus has refused to engage in any negotiation conversations with Democrats, repeating that they have already passed a stopgap funding bill and there is nothing for them to do.
Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney (NY) yelled at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) on the call, saying she wasn't helping matters. The New York lawmaker claimed a woman at a gas station yelled at her to "tell Marge stop supporting Chuck Schumer."
Johnson confessed to reporters that keeping Republicans out of Washington was probably a "better" idea.
“Is it better for them, probably, being physically separated right now? Yeah, probably is,” Johnson said. “Frankly, I wish that weren’t the case. But we do have to turn the volume down.”
Even on issues like ensuring air traffic controllers and military members receive back-pay despite the shutdown, Republicans are refusing to budge. Democrats have called on all lawmakers to return to Washington to pass a quick bill to ensure some essential workers continue to be paid during the shutdown.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) told MSNBC that the House already passed that, but he's referring, again, to the CR, not a supplemental guarantee of back-pay or payment during the shutdown. Checks for service members would typically go out next week on the 15th, USA Today noted. If the shutdown continues, those checks will not go out.
