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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 opposing political parties stalled over the weekend, with no votes anticipated to end the standoff. Survey data found just 28% of Democratic voters and 23% of Republicans consider their party’s positions worth shutting down the government.

In his comments on a major news program, Johnson stated his chamber fulfilled its duties by passing a measure to keep the government financed but now it was up to the Senate “to turn the lights back on enabling federal employees to resume work”. He charged the opposition with not participating “in meaningful discussions”.

“This strategy 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 in politics,” he said, 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, the opposition leader, told the same program that a Republican senator made false statements recently when he claimed that Democrats weren’t truthful about their intentions concerning healthcare benefits for undocumented immigrants.

“Republicans are lying because they’re losing in the court of public opinion,” Jeffries said, and added that Democrats are “standing up for the healthcare for American workers, of working-class Americans, for the middle class”.

The minority leader also addressed to comments by the former president on a social platform labeling Democrats the party as malicious and destructive alongside pictures of party figures, such as left-leaning lawmakers, the Democratic Senate leader, the previous House speaker, and the former president and first lady.

When asked about continuing talks with the former president, Jeffries responded the president’s behavior “is outrageous, it’s irrational, it’s unreasonable, and it speaks for itself. Citizens deserve better than falsehoods, hostilities, manipulated media and a leader devoting all of his time to golfing.”

Top political figures 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, along with the ex-president, have gone radio silent and the Democratic party leadership “will keep emphasizing, both the Senate leader and I, that we will sit down whenever and wherever, with anyone to address this issue with the seriousness it requires”.

The struggle for political advantage continued on Sunday as Johnson stated that the possibility 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, stating the administration will start mass layoffs among government employees should the leader determine negotiations with Democrats have “completely stalled”.

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

“I think that everybody is still hopeful that with a new beginning early this week, we can persuade the Democrats to see that it’s logical to prevent job losses of that nature,” the adviser said.

But some fear that Democrats fell into a trap. Johnson said on Sunday that the administration requested Democratic leaders to maintain government operations.

“Under these circumstances, where the Senate Democrats have decided to turn government control to the administration, they have to make tough decisions,” he explained, referencing the budget director.

The management official, the speaker stated, “has to now look at the entire government, acknowledging funding sources are discontinued and decide which programs are essential, policies, and staff. This isn’t a task he enjoys. But he’s compelled to do it by the Democratic leader.”

The spirit of mutual recrimination persisted as the Senate leader stating on television that Johnson avoids discussing the actual problem, the medical care crisis facing the American people. So he puts up all these fake lies to try and divert attention.”

However, during a discussion set to broadcast on Monday, Johnson informed a different network he views the problem of ending health subsidies – which Democrats prioritize to their negotiating position – as one that can be addressed later.

“We essentially have a quarter-year for discussions in the White House and in Congress, that’s like an eternity,” Johnson said. “We require participants acting sincerely to negotiate together and hold those talks. And we can’t do it during a government closure,” he added.

A prominent Democratic senator also speaking to the same news program was questioned whether his party members in the Senate remain unified following three Democrats defected to support GOP measures. The senator said expressing confidence that “all Democrats understand that countless of their voters risk losing access of their healthcare”.

“We require a leader who behaves maturely, who can come to the table and resolve to their self-imposed healthcare crisis,” the senator said. “Right now we don’t see that. We observe the ex-leader out on the golf course, we see the speaker instructing representatives to skip legislative sessions, claiming no duties for government employees.”