Update — October 14, 2025: This story has been updated to include new developments in the government shutdown and Marjorie Taylor Greene’s escalating conflict with Republican leadership in the hours before the shutdown began.
Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene is on a war path against her own party. Her strongest complaints target House Republicans and especially Speaker Mike Johnson. She has picked multiple fights with leadership as the federal government remains shut down.
The Government Shutdown
Greene broke with GOP leadership over the government shutdown. She publicly faulted Speaker Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune for failing to prevent it despite Republican control of both chambers and the White House.
Her central objection involves expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits. She argues that allowing those credits to lapse would send health insurance premiums soaring for millions of Americans. On this issue, she aligns with Democrats in pushing to extend the subsidies to avoid a premium spike.
Johnson said he had “a thoughtful conversation” with Greene and invited her into the health care discussions, though she does not serve on the relevant committees. Greene has called for abolishing the filibuster to let Republicans act without Democratic support. Johnson rejected that proposal as unrealistic.
The Epstein Files Demand
Greene also demands the full public release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, framing it as a fight for transparency. GOP leadership resists. Some speculate that releasing the files could implicate powerful figures, possibly including Trump, though no evidence has confirmed that.
Greene has allied with Republicans such as Rep. Thomas Massie to push for a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the files. Johnson has faced accusations of delaying the swearing-in of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva to block that vote, which he denies.
Criticism of Republican Men
Greene has intensified her criticism of Republican men in Congress. “I’m really sick and tired of the way men treat Republican women,” she said in a recent interview. She also questioned whether she still fits in the party, saying, “I don’t know if the Republican Party is leaving me, or if I’m kind of not relating to the party as much anymore.”
Intraparty Tensions and Shutdown Outlook
Earlier this year, Greene tried and failed to remove Johnson as Speaker. The failed motion to vacate underscored her growing isolation from party leadership, but she has continued to be a thorn in Johnson’s side during the shutdown.
Some House Republicans want to reconvene to address the impasse, while others back Johnson’s strategy of waiting on the Senate. Johnson warned that the shutdown could become one of the longest in U.S. history.
Democrats see Greene’s defiance as an opening. They view her as a potential bridge on health care and transparency issues.
Greene has not joined Democrats wholesale. She continues to criticize both the ACA and elements of Trump’s policies. Her push appears tactical: stabilizing insurance premiums for her constituents and forcing transparency on the Epstein files.
The longer the shutdown continues, the more pressure mounts on GOP leadership. Greene’s rebellion could influence whether others in the party follow her lead or isolate her further.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
In President Trump’s second term, America has faced one political crisis after another. Now, another urgent question looms: will the federal government shut down on October 1, 2025?
Each year, the government’s new fiscal year begins on October 1, and Congress must pass a budget to keep federal operations funded. This year, deep divisions between Republicans and Democrats have stalled progress.
What Republicans Want
Republicans in Congress passed a temporary funding measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), that would keep the government open until November 21, 2025. Their plan is to revisit a long-term budget later in the year.
Why Democrats Object
Democrats refuse to support this short-term extension unless it includes protections for Americans’ health care. Specifically, they are demanding that Republicans agree to extend the enhanced subsidies for Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act). These subsidies, which help millions of families afford health insurance, are set to expire at the end of this year. If they do, premiums will spike dramatically and many people could lose coverage altogether. Republicans have dismissed this demand as a “non-starter.”
The Senate Roadblock
Although the House passed the CR, it failed in the Senate. That’s because budget measures require 60 votes to advance, and Republicans hold only 53 seats. Earlier this year, Democrats gave Republicans the votes they needed to avoid a shutdown. But after Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” and months of partisan battles, Democrats now appear more united in resisting GOP budget maneuvers.
Trump’s Role
President Trump initially scheduled a meeting with Democratic leaders to negotiate but abruptly canceled it. He has now promised to meet with leaders of both parties on September 29, 2025, just two days before the deadline. Few believe that meeting will produce a breakthrough.
The Stakes
Both parties are taking a political gamble. If the government shuts down, it is unclear whether Americans will blame Republicans for refusing to extend health care subsidies or Democrats for holding firm against a temporary fix.
Meanwhile, federal workers are bracing for the impact. Hundreds of thousands have already lost jobs this year under Trump’s policies, and many more could soon face furloughs or layoffs if the government runs out of money.
What’s Next?
Democratic voters are urging their leaders to stand strong and not cave to Republican pressure, even if it means a shutdown. Republicans are using Trump’s bully pulpit to frame Democrats as unreasonable and irresponsible if the lights go out.
The clock is ticking. On October 1, America will learn whether its government remains open or whether partisan warfare once again shuts it down. Stay tuned.
