Speaker Johnson warns GOP to brace for government shutdown, urges unity

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House GOP leaders urged their fellow Republicans to stay united ahead of a likely government shutdown during a lawmaker-only phone call on Monday, Fox News Digital has learned.

“Realistically, the way [Democrats have] painted themselves into a corner, I don’t think they’ll be willing to yield. There’s going to be some shutdown at least on October 1st, for a few days at least,” Johnson said on the call, Fox News Digital was told. “I think that’s probably a good bet.”

House GOP leaders spent roughly an hour rallying their conference to stay on-message ahead of a possible government shutdown, which will occur if the Senate does not pass a short-term federal funding bill before midnight Wednesday. 

Johnson urged Republicans to “stay completely united,” Fox News Digital was told, while arguing that Democrats have “no credible argument” against rejecting the GOP spending bill.

SPEAKER JOHNSON FLIPS SCRIPT ON DEM LEADERS WITH STAUNCH WARNING AGAINST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

He asked House Republicans to keep a low profile before they are due to return to Capitol Hill next week, including forgoing any House floor speeches and political events, Fox News Digital was told.

His comments on a shutdown being likely were in response to one House GOP lawmaker asking whether to pull out of a planned event this week.

Democrats and Republicans are at odds over how to avert a potential shutdown, with the former warning they will not vote for the latter’s bill without significant concessions on healthcare reform. 

Republicans, in turn, have pointed out that the funding levels are roughly the same as those Democrats supported under former President Joe Biden at the end of fiscal year (FY) 2024, and have accused Democrats of making unreasonable or partisan demands for a seven-week funding bill.

The measure, a stopgap bill keeping government spending levels mostly flat until Nov. 21, is aimed at giving the House and Senate more time to set funding priorities for FY 2026, which begins on Oct. 1.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., walks to speak at a news conference following the weekly Senate Democratic policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on June 17, 2025. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

It passed the House largely along party lines earlier…