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GOP legislative leader the House leader has accused Democrats of being “lacking seriousness” during talks aimed at resolving the federal government shutdown, entering its fifth day with projections indicating it will continue through next week or beyond.

Talks between the two major parties hit a standstill during the weekend, with no votes anticipated to resolve the impasse. Survey data revealed just 28% of Democratic voters and 23% of Republicans consider their party’s positions justifies a government shutdown.

In his comments with a national television show, the speaker claimed the House had done its work by passing a measure for government funding and now the responsibility lies with the Senate “to turn the lights back on so that everyone can do their work”. He accused Democrats with not participating “in a serious negotiation”.

“They’re doing this for political protection because the Democratic leader is afraid losing his upcoming election for Senate reelection because he’s going to be challenged from a left-wing contender in New York, as this is becoming trendy in politics,” he said, referring to the Bronx representative potentially challenging the Senate leader for the Senate position next year.

But Johnson’s counterpart, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, told the same program that a GOP legislator made false statements recently when he claimed Democrats were being dishonest regarding their goals concerning healthcare benefits for undocumented immigrants.

“Republicans are lying since they’re trailing in the court of public opinion,” Jeffries said, and added his party was “standing up for the healthcare for American workers, of working-class Americans, of middle-class Americans”.

The minority leader also addressed to remarks from the ex-president on a social platform in which he called the Democratic party as malicious and destructive alongside pictures of party figures, such as left-leaning lawmakers, the Democratic Senate leader, the former speaker, and the ex-president and his wife.

When asked about continuing talks with the ex-leader, Jeffries responded the ex-president’s conduct “is shocking, it’s irrational, it’s unreasonable, and is self-explanatory. Citizens deserve better than falsehoods, than attacks, than deepfake videos and the president spending 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 before resuming negotiations.

Jeffries stated that since that meeting last Monday, “GOP leaders, including the former president, have gone radio silent while Democratic leaders “will keep emphasizing, both the Senate leader and I, that we are ready to meet whenever and wherever, with anyone to resolve this matter with the earnestness that it deserves”.

The struggle for political advantage persisted through Sunday with Johnson claiming that the possibility for temporary government job suspensions, called furloughs, hardening into permanent job layoffs “is a regrettable situation the administration wishes to avoid”.

A top White House economic adviser ramped up pressure against Democrats, stating the White House will start mass layoffs of federal workers should the leader determine discussions with the opposition have “completely stalled”.

The adviser told a national news program that the president and budget director “are preparing measures and getting ready to act if necessary, but hoping that they don’t”. But he predicted it is possible that Democrats could back down.

“I believe all parties is still hopeful that when we get a fresh start at the beginning of the week, we can persuade Democrats to recognize that it’s logical to avoid layoffs of that nature,” the adviser said.

But some fear that Democrats fell into a trap. Johnson said on Sunday that the president had asked the Democratic leadership to keep the government open.

“Under these circumstances, where the Senate Democrats choosing to hand government control over to the White House, they must take difficult choices,” he explained, referencing the budget director.

The budget director, Johnson said, “must now examine the entire government, recognizing that funding sources have been turned off and determine what are essential programs, policies, and personnel. 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 Senate leader stating on television that Johnson avoids discussing the actual problem, the medical care crisis affecting citizens. So he puts up false narratives to distract the public.”

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

“We have effectively three months to negotiate in the White House and in the hall of Congress, that’s ample time,” Johnson said. “We need folks in good faith to come around the table and hold those talks. This cannot happen during a government closure,” he continued.

A prominent Democratic senator also speaking to the same news program was asked if his party delegates in the Senate remain unified following three Democrats broke away to vote with Republicans. He responded expressing confidence that all party members recognize that millions and millions of their constituents risk losing access of their healthcare”.

“We require a leader who can act like an adult, who will negotiate and negotiate an end to their self-imposed healthcare crisis,” the senator said. “Right now we don’t see that. We observe the ex-leader golfing frequently, we notice the House leader telling his House colleagues not to even come to session, that there’s no work for government employees.”