WASHINGTON — Over the past eight months, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson overcame a tiny majority of often unruly Republicans to enact a batch of "if only" policies that conservatives have wanted for decades.

Scaling back Medicaid; closing borders and ramping up immigration enforcement; slashing regulation; lowering taxes — key parts of President Donald Trump's agenda are now law, in large part because of the quiet yet steely demeanor of the 53-year-old House leader from the Shreveport suburb of Benton.

But in the “what-have-you-done-lately” world of national politics, Johnson faces a whole new set of hurdles when Congress reconvenes in Washington on Tuesday. Foremost is passing a budget during the next 30 days to avoid shutting down federal government operations.

Just two years ago, f

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