House Speaker Mike Johnson accused top Democrats of putting political self-interest above struggling families after the House of Representatives voted Wednesday to reopen the federal government.
The chamber approved the measure to end the 43-day shutdown in a 222–209 vote on Wednesday evening.
Johnson told “Hannity” on Fox News that Democratic leaders were motivated by fear of backlash from their party’s left flank.
“Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are from New York. They needed political cover because the Marxists are taking over the Democratic Party, especially in their state,” he said.
“They were more afraid of political retribution from the radicals that now run the Democratic Party than they were about taking food out of the mouths of hungry families.”
The speaker framed the vote as a decisive win for Republicans.
“The long national nightmare is finally over,” Johnson said. “The Democrat shutdown was finally put down by the Republicans tonight. We all stood together. We did exactly what we told the American people we would do.”
The bill now moves to President Donald Trump’s desk for signature.
The weeks-long fiscal standoff largely centered on Democrats’ refusal to back a funding measure unless it included renewed and expanded Obamacare subsidies.
Johnson condemned that demand as political gamesmanship:
“It was a selfish political stunt. It yielded nothing but pain for the American people, and I think it’s going to be a long time before they forget this.”
The approved bill funds the government only through Jan. 30 and rolls back federal layoffs implemented in October by the Trump administration.
Johnson emphasized that Democrats failed to secure any of their requested additions:
“We didn’t give them anything — any of their radical, crazy demands. I think the good won out tonight, and it was long overdue.”
He also praised the administration’s work behind the scenes to minimize the shutdown’s impact.
“Trump bent over backwards to support Americans affected by the shutdown,” Johnson said, expressing confidence that the administration will move swiftly to restore normal government operations.
