Schumer and Democrats Shut Down the Government

Fearing the Wrath of Their Progressive Base, Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats Just Voted to Shut Down the Government, Causing Harm to the Entire Country

THIS EVENING, TRYING TO APPEASE THEIR PROGRESSIVE BASE, DEMOCRAT LEADER SCHUMER LED SENATE DEMOCRATS IN VOTING TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT

Republicans’ continuing resolution (CR) “would keep federal agencies funded through Nov. 21 to buy appropriators more time to negotiate and pass fiscal 2026 spending bills. It does not include partisan policy riders or cut funding.” (E&E News: Republican push for funding patch hits Democratic wall – 9/17/25)

“The measure is relatively clean, meaning it doesn’t have partisan policy riders. Democrats seem to agree, because they’re attacking what’s not in the bill…” (Punchbowl News: AM: Fed Day hits different this time – 9/17/25)

“During the White House meeting, which one participant described as ‘spirited,’ Schumer and Jeffries peppered Trump with their list of demands to keep the government open. This included everything from extending the enhanced Obamacare tax credits to nixing Trump’s ability to unilaterally cut funding.” (Punchbowl News: AM: On the brink: 5 shutdown dynamics to watch – 9/30/25)

“Republicans say it’s unclear precisely what Democrats’ bottom line is to keep the government open — or reopen it.” (Punchbowl News: AM: On the brink: 5 shutdown dynamics to watch – 9/30/25)

“Republicans have the luxury of a simple message this time: We’re willing to negotiate, but not with the threat of a government shutdown hanging over us.” (Punchbowl News: AM: On the brink: 5 shutdown dynamics to watch – 9/30/25)

“By contrast, Democrats have a lot of demands.” (Punchbowl News: AM: On the brink: 5 shutdown dynamics to watch – 9/30/25)

“Democrats have offered a draft CR that would add nearly $1.5 trillion in new spending, says Matthew Dickerson at the Economic Policy Innovation Center.” (The Wall Street Journal: Editorial: Chuck Schumer Courts a Government Shutdown – 9/18/25)

“The pressure House Democrats are putting on Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and the Senate Democratic caucus to take a hard line over the funding bill is a major factor because Schumer became the target of an angry backlash from progressives when he voted in March for a partisan House-passed funding bill.” (The Hill: Centrists give up hope to prevent shutdown as Trump talks fizzle – 9/30/25)

DEMOCRATS’ SHUTDOWN VOTE CAME AFTER PROGRESSIVES REVOLTED OVER SCHUMER’S TRIAL BALLOON TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OPEN, WHICH SCHUMER HIMSELF QUICKLY SHOT DOWN AFTER PROGRESSIVE BACKLASH

“Wait wasn’t this floated by … Chuck Schumer” – Associated Press Reporter Seung Min Kim

“Monday was a bit of a mess for the two top Democratic congressional leaders.” (Punchbowl News: AM: On the brink: 5 shutdown dynamics to watch – 9/30/25)

“[Schumer] floated a seven-to-10-day stopgap funding bill on a conference call with Senate Democrats on Sunday as a contingency plan to reopen a potentially shuttered government, three people familiar with the private conversation told NBC News.” (NBC News: Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries face a big leadership test in the shutdown fight – 9/30/25)

“Democrats inside and outside of Congress erupted in fury over a proposal circulated among Senate Democrats to reopen the government for seven to 10 days if a shutdown happens.” (Axios: "Open mutiny": Democrats angrily reject proposed shutdown fix – 9/29/25)

“Some progressives said this showed Schumer was trying to wriggle out of a shutdown even before it began. It also drew the ire of House Democrats, who privately fretted that their Senate counterpart was laying the groundwork to abandon them again.” (Punchbowl News: AM: On the brink: 5 shutdown dynamics to watch – 9/30/25)

“Indivisible — one of the progressive groups with whom the Senate leader has been interfacing — quickly came out against the idea.” (Axios: "Open mutiny": Democrats angrily reject proposed shutdown fix – 9/29/25)

“That decision quickly caused an uproar among the Democratic base, and on Monday, Schumer’s temporary funding proposal received similar backlash after it became public. Asked about his plan after meeting with Trump, Schumer seemingly reversed course — telling reporters he would not support the weeklong CR.” (NBC News: Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries face a big leadership test in the shutdown fight – 9/30/25)

“The outrage is just a glimpse at the fury Schumer and Dems would face if they vote to fund the government. There seems to be just one outcome at this point which would please the party's base.” (Axios’ Stephen Neukam: post on X – 9/30/25)

AMERICANS DON’T WANT A SHUTDOWN, BUT PROGRESSIVE ACTIVISTS DO

(The New York Times poll – 9/30/25)

“[T]wo-thirds of voters warned that Democrats should not shut down the government if their demands are not met.” (The New York Times poll – 9/30/25)

“But the Democratic base is primed for a fight. More Democratic voters, 47 percent, said the party should shut down the government if their demands were not met than said they should not (43 percent).” (The New York Times poll – 9/30/25)

“In the wake of Trump’s victory, Democrats have been deeply fractured. Centrists have said that the Democratic Party has been taken over by its left flank, which is pushing them to make unpopular decisions that turn off independent and moderate voters needed to win elections. That left flank, meanwhile, has complained that party leadership has lost their trust too, which has kept Democratic voters from turning out.” (The Wall Street Journal: Democrats Stare Down the Political Risks of a Government Shutdown – 9/30/25)

“A survey by progressive group Our Revolution of thousands of its members found ‘overwhelming support for Democrats withholding government funding to extract key concessions from Trump and congressional Republicans,’ according to an email from the group Monday.” (The Wall Street Journal: Democrats Stare Down the Political Risks of a Government Shutdown – 9/30/25)

“‘We’re not doing enough,’ Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who is seen as a potential leadership contender in the future, told NBC News on Friday. Murphy did not mention Schumer by name but urged his party to ‘draw a line in the sand’ in the funding fight.” (NBC News: Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries face a big leadership test in the shutdown fight – 9/30/25)

IGNORING THE CONSEQUENCES OF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, DEMOCRATS CHOSE THEIR FAR-LEFT BASE OVER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

“When the government partially shut down from December 2018 to January 2019, analysts estimate it reduced economic output by $11 billion in the following two quarters, including $3 billion the U.S. economy never regained.” (U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Letter to the United States Senate on the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act – 9/30/25)

The Association of Mature American Citizens Action warned against a government shutdown, saying, “A government shutdown would jeopardize critical services that seniors rely on, from Social Security offices and Medicare assistance to veterans’ benefits and health programs.” (AMAC: AMAC Action Statement on the Continuing Resolution – 9/25/25)

The National Border Patrol Council, which represents 18,000 Customs and Border Patrol agents, said, “A government shutdown means we go without mission-critical funding for patrol vehicles, roads, radios, infrastructure and agent pay.” (Fox News: Border Patrol union warns: 'Life and death' mission at risk in shutdown fight – 9/30/25)

“The pain of a government shutdown won’t just be political: Millions of low-income women and children could be left hungry as soon as next week if congressional Democrats and the White House do not come to a deal. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children will soon run out of funding. If they don’t cut a deal to keep the government open, a senior White House official told RealClearPolitics, ‘Democrats would be turning their back on WIC recipients.’” (Real Clear Politics: WH to Dems: Shutdown Threatens WIC Benefits for Mothers, Children – 9/26/25)

“The Acute Hospital Care at Home Initiative enables hospitals to obtain approval to treat Medicare patients with conditions such as respiratory diseases or bacterial infections at home. The program, which was rolled out during the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to expire on September 30 unless reauthorized by Congress.” (Daily Wire: Popular Health Program Will Expire If Senate Dems Force Government Shutdown, White House Warns – 9/26/25)

“As the Sept. 30 government funding deadline looms, the Trump administration is warning that millions of Americans could lose flood insurance coverage if Democrats refuse to back a House-passed spending bill that also extends the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)… Administration officials said they worked to ensure NFIP was part of the current funding package, reflecting what they call the urgency of protecting millions of policyholders during hurricane season.” (Fox News: EXCLUSIVE: Democrats risk flood insurance lapse in their shutdown fight, home builders and White House warn – 9/27/25)

“Several veteran groups are urging Congress to pass a short-term spending measure to avert a potential government shutdown, warning that the GOP-led continuing resolution (CR) contains extensions vital for veterans’ housing, benefits and health care.” (The Hill: Veteran groups warn Congress against shutdown: ‘Resist the pull of political brinkmanship’ – 9/27/25)

“Operations at the Social Security Administration, though, may be affected. The administration will furlough — or could prepare to fire — thousands of people who work on IT projects, replace Medicare cards and process account questions, like overpayments.” (The Washington Post: A government shutdown is less than a day away. Here’s what you need to know. – 9/30/25)

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