House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) suggested Wednesday that the House will not return to the Capitol to vote on an $852 billion Pentagon bill the Senate is set to consider Thursday — unless Senate Democrats first agree to reopen the government.

The Speaker also said he did not expect Senate Democrats to provide the votes to approve the defense measure Thursday. It will be considered amid a government shutdown that is in its third week.

“My suspicion is the Democrats are going to play their same political games and stop that cold,” Johnson said. “I hope I'm surprised by that.”

Senate GOP leaders have scheduled the defense vote

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