U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, just canceled votes that were scheduled to take place this week. 

In other words, Newsmax reports that Johnson has extended the House's recess, and it is clear that he is doing so to put further pressure on the Democrats amid the government shutdown.

Time will tell whether this strategy pays off.

Speaker Mike Johnson is reportedly canceling scheduled House votes next week, putting pressure on Senate Democrats to reopen the government. MORE: https://t.co/HZrvGqcO2M pic.twitter.com/QoYQMmdsXL

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) October 4, 2025

Votes cancelled

The Hill was one of the first outlets to report on Johnson's cancellation.

"Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is canceling previously scheduled votes next week, as Republicans look to force Democrats into accepting a GOP-crafted 'clean' bill to end the government shutdown," the outlet wrote.

It continued:

The move, according to GOP sources, is intended to keep pressure on Senate Democrats to vote for continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open for another seven weeks. Democrats have repeatedly rejected that bill as they make demands on extending health care subsidies and other issues, voting it down again on Friday.

Indeed, Fox News reports that Senate Democrats, just before the weekend, blocked Republicans' attempt to reopen the government.

Per the outlet:

Senate Republicans’ attempt to reopen the government failed on a largely party-line 54-44 vote for a fourth time, with the same trio of Senate Democratic caucus members — Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa.; Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; and Angus King, I-Maine — joining most Republicans in backing the bill.

Keeping the pressure on

Speaker Johnson has been doing his part to keep the pressure on the Democrats, including by frequently speaking to the media.

Just on Friday, he addressed the media saying:

DAY 3 of the Democrat Shutdown and Americans are paying the price while Dems keep playing politics. It could not be more straightforward: House Republicans passed a CLEAN CR—a 24 page, 7-week clean extension. Schumer & Senate Dems have voted it down THREE times but will have another chance today do the right thing. Their own plan? Page 57, Sec. 2141: $200 BILLION in taxpayer benefits for illegal aliens. FACT.

Several days have passed since then, and Johnson has stayed on message.

In a more recent statement, he said:

As a condition for ending the Democrat shutdown, Democrats want hospitals paid MORE to treat illegal aliens than American citizens — including young pregnant women. That’s not an exaggeration. It’s written in black and white — Page 57, Section 2141 of Chuck Schumer’s counterproposal. Republicans made it illegal for Medicaid to reimburse care for illegal aliens at higher rates than for U.S. citizens. Democrats are now demanding to reverse that.

There are no signs, at the time of this writing, that the gridlock will be broken.