Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said he’s willing to defy his party and urged Congress to reopen the federal government. He warned the shutdown is already squeezing public servants and threatening basic government functions.
The current stoppage followed Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, blocking a Republican spending bill that would have restored operations. The standoff left essential services at risk and put rank-and-file employees in an impossible position.
“I’m going to break from the party line here on this. I’m a Democrat. I’m with John Fetterman and Angus King.
The problem I see here is that to pass the budget, it needs 60 votes in the Senate. And what is happening each year now, and what I fear is going to happen in the future, is the minority party wants to link that to some other very, very important issue,” Johnson said.
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“Affordable health care is critical, obviously, but I fear that this is going to happen every year, every September, October, November. The most basic function of Congress is to fund the government, turn the lights on, keep the government working so that the three million people who are public servants are able to do what they do to serve all the rest of us.”
Johnson said a personal encounter pushed him to act: a Transportation Security Administration employee battling stage four cancer who feared losing her paycheck and fell behind on medical costs. ‘Mr. Secretary, I have stage four cancer, I need my paycheck for my co-pays.’ That story, he said, pushed him to defend employees over political brinkmanship.
“I’m sympathetic to the workers who are caught up in the middle of this political fight and being used as a political football,” Johnson said.
“I believe that Congress should vote to reopen the government,” Johnson said.
Senate Democrats again voted to keep the government closed, rejecting a bipartisan spending bill that would have restarted federal operations. While a few Democratic senators broke ranks and backed the measure, most of the caucus held firm and denied the 60 votes needed to move forward.
Republican Sen. John Kennedy accused Democrats of prolonging the shutdown by demanding the restoration of millions in foreign projects he called wasteful. He pointed to a list that allegedly included $4 million for LGBTQ initiatives in the Balkans and Uganda, $3.6 million for dance workshops for male sex workers in Haiti, and $6 million for Palestinian media subsidies. Kennedy argued those items were removed from bills but delegates on the far left threatened to block any reopening unless the funds returned.
Johnson’s willingness to break with his party puts pressure on Democratic leaders who have made reopening a partisan demand. His stance could influence moderate senators and complicate the left’s negotiating leverage as talks continue.
Republicans praised Johnson for siding with common sense rather than party posture. His remarks offered a bipartisan opening for lawmakers tired of shutdown tactics and mindful of voters paying the price.
Senators now face a choice between a pragmatic vote that restores paychecks and a political stand that risks prolonging chaos for months. For many voters, the calculus comes down to whether leaders put Americans first or use budget fights to force unrelated demands.
If Johnson persuades even a small number of Democrats to break, it could be enough to overcome the filibuster hurdle and pass emergency funding. That outcome would shift the narrative and leave hardliners scrambling for justification.
Darnell Thompkins is a Canadian-born American and conservative opinion writer who brings a unique perspective to political and cultural discussions. Passionate about traditional values and individual freedoms, Darnell’s commentary reflects his commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue. When he’s not writing, he enjoys watching hockey and celebrating the sport that connects his Canadian roots with his American journey.