Negotiations to avert a government shutdown collapsed Monday after last-ditch talks between Republicans and Democrats failed to produce an agreement. At a tense joint press conference, Vice President J.D. Vance and House Majority Leader Mike Johnson blasted Democratic leaders, accusing them of hypocrisy, hostage-taking, and reckless demands that threatened to halt government operations.
Vance warned that a shutdown now seemed inevitable, blaming what he described as “unreasonable” requests from Democrats, who are in the minority. “We don’t always agree with one another,” he said, “but that doesn’t justify threatening the American people with a shutdown unless Republicans give in to every Democratic demand. That is wrong and unfair.”

According to Vance, Democrats had originally pushed for a sweeping $1.5 trillion package that included billions for healthcare coverage for undocumented immigrants—while millions of American families still struggle to afford basic care. Republicans rejected the proposal outright, and Vance accused Democrats of returning to the table with ultimatums instead of solutions. “This has become political theater,” he added. “Democrats have perfected the tactic of blaming Republicans no matter what, even when we offer clean, responsible resolutions.”
House Majority Leader Johnson echoed that criticism, specifically targeting Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. He accused them of loading the budget with wasteful spending—$500 million for media outlets and restored benefits for undocumented immigrants—while demanding a seven-week stopgap funding extension.
“They want to take the hard-earned money of American taxpayers and give it to people here illegally,” Johnson said. “That’s not something we can support. When Republicans were in the minority under Biden, we still acted responsibly to keep the government running. Democrats should be expected to do the same now.”

Both leaders warned that Democrats were trying to use shutdown threats as leverage to force through policies voters had already rejected. Johnson called the strategy a “power grab” that undermines the Republican majority’s mandate. Vance compared it to a clown act: “They put on the nose, take it off, and keep repeating the trick until the public forgets who started the game.”
Acknowledging that media narratives and polls might place blame on the GOP if a shutdown occurs, both men insisted that Republicans must resist caving to bad deals just to avoid bad headlines. “No matter what happens, Republicans will be criticized,” Vance said. “But the right choice is to stand strong, protect the mandate we were given, and refuse to let shutdown threats become Washington’s new normal.”
In closing, Vance and Johnson urged Republicans to stay united, keep the government open on fair terms, and put taxpayers ahead of political gamesmanship. “We will not allow partisan demands to hold this country hostage,” Johnson said.