Senate Democratic Chief Chuck Schumer introduced Thursday evening that he plans to vote to maintain the federal government open, signaling that there’ll virtually definitely be sufficient Democratic votes to advance a Home GOP funding invoice earlier than a shutdown deadline on the finish of the day Friday.
In remarks on the Senate flooring, Schumer conceded a authorities shutdown is the more serious end result.
“Whereas the Republican invoice could be very unhealthy, the potential for a shutdown has penalties for America which can be a lot a lot worse. For positive, the Republican invoice is a horrible possibility,” he stated. “It isn’t a clear CR” or persevering with decision, he stated. “It’s deeply partisan. It does not deal with far too a lot of this nation’s wants, however I imagine permitting Donald Trump to take even way more energy in a authorities shutdown is a far worse possibility.”
Schumer’s announcement amounted to a significant break from Home Democrats who voted practically unanimously in opposition to the GOP funding invoice earlier this week. Following Schumer’s remarks, high Home Democrats released a joint statement reiterating that they continue to be “strongly opposed” to the GOP funding invoice and say as an alternative they assist a four-week spending invoice that will permit lawmakers to proceed negotiating.
In his remarks on the Senate flooring, Schumer argued Republicans are in charge for a “Hobson’s alternative” that “introduced us to the brink of catastrophe.”
“Except Congress acts, the federal authorities will shut down tomorrow at midnight. I’ve stated many occasions there aren’t any winners in a authorities shutdown. However there are definitely victims: essentially the most weak People who depend on federal packages to feed their households to entry medical care and to remain financially afloat,” Schumer stated.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer leaves the Democratic caucus lunch on the U.S. Capitol, Mar. 13, 2025 in Washington.
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Photographs
A call to close down the federal government would give President Donald Donald Trump and his senior adviser Elon Musk an excessive amount of energy to proceed their federal employee cuts with out discretion, he asserted.
“A shutdown would give Donald Trump and Elon musk carte blanche to destroy very important authorities companies at a considerably sooner fee than they will proper now. Below as shutdown the Trump administration would have full authority to deem complete businesses packages an personnel nonessential, furloughing workers with no promise they’d ever be rehired,” Schumer stated. “Briefly: a shut down would give Donald Trump Elon musk and DOGE the keys to the town state and nation.”
Earlier Thursday, Schumer advised his Democratic colleagues throughout a closed-door lunch that he would vote to clear a path for ultimate passage of a Home-GOP funding invoice, sources acquainted with the matter advised ABC Information.
That transfer would clear the best way for Republicans to cross the invoice with a easy majority.
Senate Democrats remained tight-lipped after huddling behind closed doorways forward of the fast-approaching authorities funding deadline.
“What occurs in caucus, stays in caucus,” Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin stated as she left the weekly lunch.
“Ask any individual else,” Democratic Sen. Cory Booker grumbled.
“I haven’t got any remark,” stated Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
A number of Democrats have privately admitted they possible do not have the votes to dam a Republican proposal to maintain the federal government funded by September, a number of sources advised ABC Information.
Tensions had been on full show on the personal assembly. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was yelling so loudly in regards to the affect of a shutdown that reporters may hear her by the partitions.
One Democrat who spoke on the situation of anonymity advised ABC Information, “We misplaced this two weeks in the past … we should always’ve been beating this drum for a month.”
At that time, solely Democratic Sen. John Fetterman had publicly signaled he would vote to maintain the federal government open.
Sen. John Fetterman talks to reporters outdoors the chamber throughout a vote on the Capitol in Washington, Mar. 13, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Fetterman insisted that he will not succumb to the posturing he sees from occasion leaders after he urged Republicans to maintain authorities open up to now when Democrats managed the higher chamber.
“By no means, ever, ever, ever, ever shut the federal government down,” Fetterman advised reporters on the Capitol on Thursday afternoon. “Democrat, Republican, independents, anybody. By no means shut the federal government down. That is certainly one of our core duties.”
Fetterman known as the political strain “spicy” — telling reporters that he is remaining “constant” in his principled perception to not vote for a shutdown.
Fetterman acknowledged that Republicans “are daring” Democrats to close down the federal government, however the freshman Democrat frightened that furloughed employees and folks relying on federal companies are those who’re “actually going to harm.”
Now that Republicans cleared their invoice by the Home, Fetterman stated he believes the battle is over.
Fetterman stated the one time Democrats have leverage is that if the Republicans want the votes within the Home.
“The GOP delivered, and that successfully iced this out. And that forces us to say, ‘Are you going to close the federal government down, or you will vote for a flawed CR?’ And now for me, I refuse to close the federal government down.”
Schumer on Wednesday stated Senate Democrats wouldn’t present the votes wanted for Republicans to advance the Home-approved deal to fund the federal government by September. As a substitute, Schumer proposed a one-month stopgap measure to permit extra time for appropriators to barter and full full-year funding payments.
Republicans and the White Home, in the meantime, are preemptively pointing the finger at Democrats if a shutdown ensues.
“If it closes, it is purely on the Democrats,” President Donald Trump stated as he took reporter questions whereas assembly with NATO Secretary Basic Mark Rutte within the Oval Workplace on Thursday.
Trump was requested whether or not he is step in to barter with Democrats and he stated he would if Republicans requested it: “In the event that they want me, I am there 100%.”
