"He has argued that the House, which under the Constitution has the sole power to initiate spending legislation, has no reason to meet as long as Senate Democrats are blocking a bill to reopen the government. He has refused to swear in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat who won election a month ago and has sued in federal court to be allowed to take her seat, claiming he lacks the power to do so."
"His strategy of indefinite hiatus means that Mr. Johnson has not engaged in the typical political theater that speakers often employ during shutdown fights to jam the party out of power: scheduling tricky votes on bills to reopen parks or pay certain categories of federal workers, like agents for Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection."
Donald Trump privately treats himself as the effective Speaker while Mike Johnson remains the nominal officeholder. Johnson kept the House on vacation for the entire government shutdown, arguing the chamber need not meet while Senate Democrats block a reopening bill. Johnson refused to swear in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva, citing a lack of authority. Johnson avoided scheduling targeted votes that speakers typically use to pressure opponents. Johnson’s absenteeism is a strategic calculation to keep unruly members in line by placing them on extended leave. The result is a speakership that has largely rendered the House politically irrelevant during the shutdown.
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