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GOP legislative leader Mike Johnson asserted that the opposing party are “lacking seriousness” in negotiations aimed at resolving the federal government shutdown, entering its fifth day and expected to last through next week or beyond.

Talks between the two major parties hit a standstill during the weekend, and no legislative action expected to resolve the impasse. Survey data indicated just 28% of Democratic voters along with 23% of GOP supporters consider their party’s positions justifies a government shutdown.

During an interview with a national television show, Johnson stated the House fulfilled its duties through approving legislation to keep the government financed but now it was up to the Senate “to restart government operations enabling federal employees to resume work”. He charged the opposition of failing to engage “in meaningful discussions”.

“They’re doing this for political protection because the Senate leader is afraid losing his next re-election bid for Senate reelection facing a challenge by a progressive candidate from New York, because that’s the new popular thing out there,” he remarked, mentioning a New York congresswoman who may be looking to challenge the Senate leader for his seat in the coming election.

But Johnson’s counterpart, the opposition leader, told the same program that a GOP legislator made false statements recently by asserting Democrats were being dishonest regarding their goals concerning healthcare benefits for immigrants without documentation.

“Republicans are lying since they’re trailing in public support,” Jeffries said, noting that Democrats are “advocating for the healthcare of hard-working American taxpayers, of working-class Americans, for the middle class”.

The minority leader also addressed to remarks by the former president in a social media post labeling the Democratic party as malicious and destructive accompanied by images of prominent Democrats, including left-leaning lawmakers, the Democratic Senate leader, the former speaker, and the former president and first lady.

When asked about continuing talks with the former president, Jeffries said the president’s behavior “is shocking, it’s irrational, it’s unjustifiable, and it speaks for itself. Citizens deserve better than falsehoods, than attacks, manipulated media and a leader devoting excessive time on the golf course.”

Top political figures have not had formal talks for almost a week as both seek to gain a political edge before resuming negotiations.

The minority leader mentioned that since that meeting earlier this week, “Republicans, along with the ex-president, have gone radio silent and the Democratic party leadership “will continue to make clear, the Senate leader and myself, that we are ready to meet any time, any place, with all parties to address this issue with the earnestness it requires”.

The struggle for political advantage continued on Sunday with Johnson claiming that the possibility for temporary government job suspensions, known as furloughs, evolving into permanent dismissals “is a regrettable situation that the president does not want”.

A top White House economic adviser increased pressure on Democrats, stating the administration may initiate widespread job cuts of federal workers if the president decides negotiations with Democrats have “completely stalled”.

The adviser told a Sunday talk show that the administration “are lining things up and ready to take action if necessary, but hoping that they don’t”. But he predicted there’s a chance that Democrats could back down.

“I believe all parties remain optimistic that when we get a fresh start early this week, we can persuade the Democrats to see that it’s just common sense to prevent job losses like that,” the adviser said.

However, concerns exist that Democrats fell into a trap. The speaker stated Sunday that the president requested Democratic leaders to keep the government open.

“In a situation like this, where the Senate Democrats have decided to turn government control over to the White House, they have to make difficult choices,” he said, referencing the budget director.

The management official, Johnson said, “must now examine all of the federal government, recognizing that funding sources have been turned off and determine what are essential programs, policies, and staff. That’s not a job that he relishes. But he’s compelled to do it by the Democratic leader.”

The cycle of blame continued with the Democratic leader telling a news network that Johnson avoids discussing the real issue, the medical care crisis facing the American people. Therefore he creates all these fake lies to try and divert attention.”

However, during a discussion scheduled for Monday, Johnson informed a different network he views the problem of ending health subsidies – that Democrats place central to their negotiating position – as one that can be addressed later.

“We have effectively a quarter-year for discussions with the administration and in Congress, that’s like an eternity,” Johnson said. “We need folks in good faith to negotiate together and hold those talks. This cannot happen when the government is shut down,” he added.

A prominent Democratic senator appearing on the same news program was questioned whether his party members in the Senate would stay united after three Democratic senators broke away to vote with Republicans. He responded he was confident that “all Democrats understand that countless of their constituents are about to be priced out to medical care”.

“We require a leader 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 golfing frequently, we see the speaker telling his House colleagues not to even come to session, that there’s no work for the federal government to do.”