This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

With the threat of a looming government shutdown, House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared on "Sunday Morning Futures" with Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News Channel to discuss whether a shutdown can be avoided.

After meeting with President Trump, Speaker Johnson said the president has asked Mike Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries to "stop playing political games."

Regarding the national debt, Johnson said: "What's really important to point out here … the statutes in federal law require Congress to do 12 separate appropriations bills every year. That's the only way to ensure stewardship of taxpayer funds – to spend less money and make government more responsible. The problem is, as you and I both know … Congress hasn't really worked that way in a long time. Typically what we hae instead is a giant omnibus spending bill at the end of the year because the can is kicked down the road all the way to that point."

Johnson stated that the Trump administration is "forcing the muscle memory back" and have gotten "Congress to work again."