The next is the transcript of the interview with Home Speaker Mike Johnson that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Oct. 5, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We flip now to the federal government shutdown now in its fifth day. Home. Speaker Mike Johnson joins us from Capitol Hill. Good morning to you, Speaker. Anybody up there to barter with?
SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON: There’s not, Margaret. Good morning. Good to listen to your voice. It is form of quiet round right here. It has been for the final a number of days, and it’s extremely unlucky, as a result of, as we’re speaking actual persons are being adversely affected across the nation in some and in very substantial methods. I pray that extra Democrats within the Senate will come to their senses and do the proper factor, and after they have the following alternative on Monday to vote to open the federal government, I absolutely hope that they are going to.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, you probably did ship your lawmakers residence to their districts, which suggests we have in all probability one other week forward of us of this shutdown. You talked about the actual world affect federal employees, together with our navy, would miss their first paychecks October fifteenth or sixteenth. How lengthy ought to employees plan to be with out that earnings?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Effectively, the one one who can reply that query is your subsequent visitor and that is Chuck Schumer, as a result of the Home did its job. The rationale that Home Republicans are residence working of their districts, and I believe Home Democrats needs to be as effectively, is as a result of we did that. We handed a bipartisan, very clear persevering with decision a few weeks again now, and despatched it to the Senate. It is essential to notice what was in that. It was solely 24 pages in size, Margaret. It was a superb religion effort to maintain the federal government open for seven extra weeks in order that Republicans and Democrats, in a bipartisan style, might work collectively to fund the federal government with the appropriations course of. Chuck Schumer all the time voted for these previously. In reality, he did it 13 occasions through the 4 years of the Biden administration, however now instantly he is commanding his Democrats within the Senate to not do it, and there is one easy cause why. They want political cowl from the far left nook of the bottom. He is afraid, Chuck Schumer, individually- ask him about it. He is afraid he will get a problem from the Marxist left in his get together, as a result of that is the brand new wave in New York. That is what that is about. Chuck Schumer is attempting to indicate a battle in opposition to the President and Republicans and actual Individuals are being harmed within the means of this political recreation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay. Effectively, Democrats, as you already know, wish to have one other dialog in regard to extending some tax subsidies that decrease the price of some well being care that is bought by the Obamacare market. To that time, although, you are speaking in regards to the politics of this, our CBS polling that we launched as we speak reveals neither get together’s stance is considered as price shutting down this authorities. The Democrats wish to discuss in regards to the tax credit. You understand, premium pricing is already being set now, even when this does not expire till finish of the 12 months. Your fellow Republican, Jen Kiggans mentioned, “elevating prices for households with little discover and probably stripping them of entry to care is just unacceptable.” Does not she have a degree right here?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: There’s a whole lot of factors to be made on that, and we’re prepared to speak about, negotiate and do all of that, however they’re attempting to create that as a crimson herring right here proper now. Margaret, this can be a funding bootstrap measure, a quite simple, very standard factor that is been achieved right here on a regular basis. That is the way in which it really works now. We want slightly extra time on the clock to complete the appropriations course of. Now we have loads of time to debate that very sophisticated subject. It isn’t a easy one. There must be reforms to that subsidy, as a result of there’s a whole lot of fraud, waste and abuse concerned in it. There is a- there’s 535 members of Congress within the Home and Senate. There is a- there’s in all probability 400 totally different concepts on find out how to repair that, so we’d like slightly time to do it. We’re not saying that we cannot negotiate it. We’re saying flip the lights again on in Congress. Get troops paid TSA brokers and border patrol brokers paid who’re attempting to guard us. Restore the well being care packages which can be being stalled for veterans and Medicare recipients who’re getting residence well being, it is all stalled now, restore FEMA flood insurance coverage packages in the course of hurricane–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Proper. Flip the lights again on.–
SPEAKER JOHNSON: — and WIC packages for younger ladies. We bought to get this mounted now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However simply to make clear what you had been simply saying, do I hear you accurately? That you simply, as Speaker of the Home, wish to see the tax credit score prolonged at a future date? Is that what you might be saying?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: No, I have not staked out any place on it but, as a result of that is not how this course of works. We’re in a deliberative body–
MARGARET BRENNAN:– Proper, I am asking your place since you said–
SPEAKER JOHNSON:– I am the speaker of the Home–
MARGARET BRENNAN:– you would be keen to speak about it–
SPEAKER JOHNSON:– I am telling you my position- I am the Speaker of the Home. What I’ve to do is draw consensus amongst 435 members of my physique. I do not get out and challenge what the ultimate conclusion goes to be. And I’ve advised Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, most not too long ago within the Oval Workplace with the President simply 5, six days in the past, maintain the federal government open in order that we will do this job. We had been all the time planning to do this. Once more, that funding runs out December 31. The month of October is a crucial time for us to get to this. However we won’t when Chuck Schumer retains voting to close the federal government down for political causes. That is purely and easily what’s occurring right here.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You consider you’ve time right here, however our companion at well being coverage suppose tank KFF reported 80% of all premium tax credit went to ObamaCare enrollees in Trump received states. Pink states. Do you really- do fear in any respect that this stance might backfire, that ready to speak in regards to the tax credit score might harm you and will harm your voters?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: No- no. No, as a result of now we have time to do it once more. The funding would not run out till December thirty first. We’re speaking a couple of September thirtieth deadline that is now handed to maintain the federal government open in order that Republicans and Democrats can have that very debate. Chuck Schumer has shut it off as a result of he wants a political argument proper now. 100% Margaret, that is what that is about. Play the tape. Play the tape of Chuck Schumer saying constantly for the final 30 years that CRs are harmful, harmful, and egocentric. He’s now the captain of it, and it is on him. Republicans within the Home, Senate, and the White Home wish to maintain the federal government open, and now we have voted to take action. Democrats are shutting it down–
MARGARET BRENNAN: However you might be committing to have that dialog about well being care is what I perceive you saying?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: It was- it was all the time going to proceed. They’re making this up. That may be a crimson herring. They’re attempting to- they’re attempting to say that this battle proper now’s about that. That wasn’t even a battle. It is a joke. Name him on it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, the director of the Financial Council, Kevin Hassett, was on one other community this morning, and mentioned it’s as much as the President of the US to resolve when the mass layoffs will start. He appears to be indicating the President is utilizing these RIFs, these reduction-in-force threats, as leverage right here. Have you learnt how rapidly these layoffs will begin?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: I do not know. I anticipate it should be quickly, as a result of Chuck Schumer turned off the funding sources and whomever is the chair of the office–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Would you like that as leverage?–
SPEAKER JOHNSON: — No, nor- neither does the President. No. The President desires the federal government open. He is pleaded with Schumer and Hakeem in individual in his workplace to do this, and so they mentioned no, as a result of they wish to do that. You understand what they counter-proposed? They wish to spend $1.5 trillion, and so they wish to return hard-working taxpayer {dollars} to fund well being look after unlawful aliens. It’s of their invoice. Go to speaker.gov and see it for your self. Web page 57, Part 2141. They’re utilizing this for political video games, and it’s shameful, and actual persons are getting harm.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, that- I’ve checked out that textual content, it would not explicitly say what you might be indicating–
SPEAKER JOHNSON:– Effectively, wait a minute–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — However unauthorized immigrants are intelligible for ACA benefits–
SPEAKER JOHNSON: — This is essential. Sure it does. It is- it says very merely, they wish to repeal the adjustments that we made in the- within the Working Households Tax Minimize, the One Huge Lovely Invoice.
MARGARET BRENNAN: –That is right–
SPEAKER JOHNSON: — And what these adjustments had been is it eliminated well being care going to unlawful aliens. It eliminated all of the fraud, waste and abuse. And the Congressional Finances Workplace, CBO mentioned it achieved the specified end result. They challenge it can save virtually $200 billion. Chuck Schumer’s proposal on web page 57 desires to return that $200 billion of taxpayer funds to pay for unlawful aliens and different non-citizens. That may be a reality, and you may test it out on my web site speaker.gov. Do not belief me. Have a look at Chuck Schumer’s personal paperwork.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Speaker of the Home, Mike Johnson, thanks on your time. This morning, we’ll be proper again with much more ‘Face the Nation’. Stick with us.
