Sean Duffy holding news conference on impact of shutdown on transportation

Lawmakers provided few public signs of meaningful negotiations to break an impasse on reopening the federal government as the shutdown entered its sixth day on Monday, with House Speaker Mike Johnson saying it was Democrats who needed to “stop the madness.”

President Donald Trump, when asked on Sunday night when federal workers would be fired as he has threatened, told reporters: “It’s taking place right now, and it’s all because of the Democrats.” He declined to answer a question about which agencies are subject to the cuts.

The possibility of layoffs escalates an already tense situation in which Washington lawmakers have struggled to find common ground and build mutual trust. Leaders in both parties are betting that public sentiment has swung their way, putting pressure on the other side to cave.

Johnson, R-La., told reporters on Monday that they could stop asking why he wasn't negotiating an end to the impasse and that it was up to a handful of Democrats to “stop the madness” and pass a stopgap spending bill that had earlier passed the House.

“There’s nothing for us to negotiate. The House has done its job,” Johnson said.

The House is not expected to be in session this week, focusing attention on the Senate to take the lead on any deal in the Republican-led Congress. Yet even with House lawmakers away, the Republican and Democratic leaders have been holding almost daily briefings as they frame their arguments and seek to shift blame for the shutdown.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/syndication/associatedpress/republicans-and-democrats-at-an-impasse-as-government-shutdown-enters-sixth-day/616-c4c939e8-872a-4616-a929-ee2502072370

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