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GOP legislative leader Mike Johnson has accused Democrats are “not serious” in negotiations to end the ongoing government closure, entering its fifth day and expected to last into next week or longer.

Talks between the opposing political parties hit a standstill during the weekend, with no votes anticipated to end the standoff. A recent poll found just 28% of Democratic voters along with 23% of GOP supporters consider their party’s positions justifies a government shutdown.

During an interview on a major news program, Johnson stated his chamber fulfilled its duties by passing a measure to keep the government financed and now the responsibility lies with the Senate “to restart government operations so that everyone can do their work”. He accused Democrats of failing to engage “in a serious negotiation”.

“This strategy for political protection because the Senate leader is afraid that he won’t win his next re-election bid for Senate reelection facing a challenge from a left-wing contender in New York, as this is becoming trendy in politics,” he remarked, mentioning a New York congresswoman who may be looking to challenge the Senate leader for the Senate position in the coming election.

But Johnson’s counterpart, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, told the same program that a Republican senator lied last week by asserting Democrats were being dishonest about their intentions related to medical coverage for immigrants without documentation.

“GOP members are deceitful since they’re trailing in the court of public opinion,” Jeffries said, and added that Democrats are “advocating for medical care for American workers, of working-class Americans, for the middle class”.

The minority leader also addressed to comments from the ex-president in a social media post in which he called Democrats the party as malicious and destructive alongside pictures of prominent Democrats, including progressive representatives, the Senate leader, the former speaker, and the former president and first lady.

When asked about continuing talks with the ex-leader, Jeffries responded the president’s behavior “is outrageous, it’s irrational, it’s unjustifiable, and is self-explanatory. Citizens merit more than lies, than attacks, than deepfake videos and a leader devoting excessive time on the golf course.”

Leaders of the political leadership haven’t engaged in official discussions in nearly a week while both parties attempt to gain a political edge ahead of renewed discussions.

Jeffries stated that since that meeting earlier this week, “Republicans, including the former president, have ceased communication and the Democratic party leadership “will continue to make clear, both the Senate leader and I, that we will sit down whenever and wherever, with all parties to resolve this matter with the seriousness it requires”.

The struggle for political advantage continued on Sunday as Johnson stated that the potential of temporary federal employee furloughs, known as furloughs, evolving into permanent dismissals “is an unfortunate circumstance that the president does not want”.

A senior administration economic official increased pressure on Democrats, saying the administration will start mass layoffs among government employees should the leader determine negotiations with Democrats are “absolutely going nowhere”.

The adviser told a Sunday talk show that the president and budget director “are preparing measures and getting ready to act if they have to, but hoping to avoid it”. But he predicted it is possible that Democrats could back down.

“I think that everybody is still hopeful that with a fresh start at the beginning of the week, that we can get the Democrats to see that it’s just common sense to avoid layoffs like that,” the official commented.

But some fear Democrats have walked into a trap. The speaker stated Sunday that the president requested Democratic leaders to maintain government operations.

“In a situation like this, where the Senate Democrats have decided to turn the keys to the kingdom to the administration, they have to make difficult choices,” he explained, pointing to the budget director.

The management official, Johnson said, “has to now look at all of the federal government, recognizing that funding sources have been turned off and decide what are essential programs, policies, and staff. That’s not a job that he relishes. But he’s being required to perform it by the Senate leader.”

The cycle of blame persisted as the Senate leader telling a news network that Johnson avoids discussing the actual problem, the medical care crisis facing the American people. So he puts up false narratives to try and divert attention.”

But in an interview scheduled for Monday, Johnson informed another news network he views the problem of ending health subsidies – which Democrats prioritize to their negotiating position – as something resolvable later.

“We essentially have a quarter-year for discussions with the administration and in Congress, that’s like an eternity,” Johnson remarked. “We require participants acting sincerely to come around the table and have that discussion. And we can’t do it during a government closure,” he added.

A leading Senate Democrat appearing on a Sunday show was questioned if his party delegates in the Senate remain unified after three Democratic senators broke away to vote with Republicans. The senator said expressing confidence that all party members recognize that countless of their voters risk losing access to medical care”.

“We need a president who can act like an adult, who will negotiate and negotiate an end to this manufactured healthcare emergency,” the senator said. “Currently this isn’t evident. We observe the ex-leader out on the golf course, we see the speaker telling his House colleagues to skip legislative sessions, claiming no duties for government employees.”