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Mike Johnson

Mike Johnson

Speaker of the House

Appears in 5 stories

Notable Quotes

"Taking the masks off ICE officers and agents, the reason we can't do that is that it would subject them to great harm, their families at great risk." — February 2026

"House Republicans are advancing FY26 funding bills and building momentum toward completing the annual appropriations process without a bloated omnibus bill."

"I will back the Senate-passed funding deal in light of President Trump's support for it, and we'll vote Monday." —GOP conference call

Stories

Department of Homeland Security shutdown over immigration enforcement

Rule Changes

Opposing Democratic demands

The U.S. Senate passed a DHS funding bill by voice vote at 2:20 a.m. on March 27, 2026. It ends the partial shutdown that began February 14 for most agencies, but leaves out ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and most U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Updated 5 hours ago

The FY2026 budget battle: from 43-day shutdown to bipartisan breakthrough

Money Moves

Secured narrow House passage of H.R. 7148 (217-214) on February 3; DHS funding negotiations ongoing

The House passed H.R. 7148 on February 3 by a narrow 217-214 vote, ending a brief weekend partial shutdown and funding Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, Transportation-HUD, State, and Financial Services through September 30, 2026. DHS funding lapsed February 13 after talks over immigration enforcement reforms collapsed, triggering a second partial shutdown covering only DHS agencies: TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA.

Updated May 20

The ACA subsidies cliff

Rule Changes

Opposed extension, overruled by discharge petition; House passed bill despite his opposition

The House passed a three-year extension of ACA subsidies January 8, 2026, by 230-196, with 17 Republicans joining Democrats after a discharge petition bypassed Johnson's opposition. The subsidies had expired December 31, 2025, more than doubling premiums for 22 million Americans—92% of marketplace enrollees. A 60-year-old couple earning $85,000 now faces $22,600 more annually in premiums.

Updated May 19

Congress lets ACA subsidy cliff hit, setting up a 2026 premium shock

Rule Changes

Blocked subsidy extension votes in December; suffered major defeat when discharge petition forced January 8 vote that passed 230-196

Enhanced premium tax credits expired January 1, 2026. By late January, 1.2 to 1.4 million fewer Americans had enrolled for marketplace coverage, with total 2026 enrollment at 22.8–22.9 million.

Updated May 11

Record $901 billion US defense bill tests Trump-era military priorities and Ukraine commitment

Rule Changes

Leading House GOP in aligning the NDAA with Trump’s cultural and border priorities while accepting higher spending and Ukraine aid in compromise

Congress passed the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act in December 2025, authorizing a record $901 billion in national security spending. The House approved the final compromise 312–112 on December 10, and Trump signed it December 18 without an Oval Office ceremony.

Updated May 10