MAGA Lawmakers and Trump Administration Prolong Government Shutdown, Refuse to Negotiate

As the 2025 government shutdown extended into its second month, many MAGA-aligned lawmakers and senior administration officials repeatedly failed to attend negotiations or participate in good-faith discussions with Democrats, despite Republican control of Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson kept the House in recess and public statements placed blame solely on Democrats, while Trump declined to engage directly. Critics described this conduct as a dereliction of governance and an intentional institutional sabotage.