House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on CNN reacted to concerns by Democrats that President Donald Trump could use the shutdown to shrink the federal government.

DANA BASH, CNN:  I do want — I want to talk about something you said this morning about Chuck Schumer.    You said: “Schumer has now handed the keys to the kingdom to the executive branch and” that a shutdown can provide an opportunity to — quote — “downsize the government.”    I just want to be clear. Do you think that the OMB, the executive branch, should use this shutdown as an excuse to permanently fire federal workers?    SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON:  Well, I can tell you, right now, the president has been a benevolent president. He is mitigating the harm right now. OMB has not come out of the blocks and fired a bunch of people. That’s not what’s happening.    BASH:  But do you think they should?    JOHNSON:  Well, it provides an opportunity. Chuck Schumer has provided the Trump White House with an opportunity to downsize the government on priorities and policies and personnel that they deem to be nonessential.    Now, Chuck Schumer has very different priorities about federal government than the Republicans.    BASH:  But what’s your priority? You’re the speaker of the House. You can say to the…   JOHNSON:  I certainly want to downsize the size and scope of the federal government.    BASH:  So you think that the people who are maybe furloughed right now or even working without pay should be on the chopping block for permanent dismissal?    JOHNSON:  No, I wouldn’t say that, because the people that are furloughed right now are hardworking American federal workers.    BASH:  So, who should be fired during the shutdown?    JOHNSON:  I don’t know. You would have to show me a proposal of what is being presented.    BASH:  I don’t have a proposal. I’m asking you.   JOHNSON:  I don’t have it either. But I have a conference call with Russ Vought at OMB in about two hours, and we’re going to ask him about the details of that.    But I will tell you right now…   BASH:  So this is happening? So…   JOHNSON:  It’s — well, I don’t know. I’m going to find out what his plans are.    BASH:  Yes.   JOHNSON:  But I will tell you this.    Right now, who’s being harmed are women, infants and children. Their nutrition program is stalled, veterans who are not getting their services right now, and very important services like suicide prevention that’s a day-to-day thing.    BASH:  Yes, no question. I mean, it’s horrible.    JOHNSON:  They’re unfunded. FEMA is not funded right now for insurance policies.   BASH:  And it’s horrible. That is temporary. So I just…   JOHNSON:  Yes.

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