On the primary day of the 2013 authorities shutdown, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, had a message for Republicans who refused to fund the federal government until Congress defunded Obamacare: Hostage-taking wouldn’t work.
“As we mentioned a thousand occasions, we’re pleased to debate fund the federal government, however not with a gun to our heads,” Schumer mentioned on the Senate ground.
“You aren’t going to get us to offer in to extortion,” he continued. “You aren’t going to take, as hostage, thousands and thousands of harmless People and reach getting us to do one thing you need, and we do not, they usually do not.
That shutdown ended after 16 days and Republicans had little to point out for it.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer discuss to reporters outdoors the West Wing of the White Home, Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington.
AP Photograph/Alex Brandon
Twelve years later, Schumer and Democrats, now within the minority, are staring down one other authorities shutdown — however one which may be of their very own making.
Within the Senate, Democrats are withholding help for a measure to maintain the federal government funded at present ranges until Republicans lengthen subsidies that assist some People pay for well being care by way of the Reasonably priced Care Act, that are set to run out at yr’s finish, amongst different calls for.
It is a web page out of the playbook pioneered by the GOP and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and used repeatedly since 2013.
However for the primary time, Democrats are poised to oppose funding the federal government. Schumer and Home Democratic Chief Hakeem Jeffries left a White Home assembly with President Donald Trump and high GOP leaders with out an settlement on the trail ahead.
“I believe we’re headed to a shutdown as a result of the Democrats gained’t do the appropriate factor,” Vice President JD Vance mentioned on the White Home driveway after the assembly.
When Congress averted a shutdown in March, Schumer and 9 different Democrats voted with Republicans to increase funding till the top of the fiscal yr.
On the time, he argued {that a} shutdown would empower the Trump administration and the Elon Musk-led Division of Authorities Effectivity to proceed radically reshaping the federal authorities
“Beneath a shutdown, the Trump administration would have wide-ranging authority to deem complete companies, applications and personnel nonessential, furloughing workers members with no promise they’d ever be rehired,” Schumer wrote in the New York Times, explaining his vote.
Now, the Senate minority chief has reversed himself, however denying that the pivot is because of political strain — as an alternative arguing that the deal reduce within the spring hasn’t stopped the Trump administration from pushing out federal employees.
“We’re listening to from the American folks that they need assistance on well being care,” Schumer mentioned Sunday on “Meet the Press.” “As for these large layoffs, guess what? Easy one sentence reply, they’re doing it anyway.”
Vice President JD Vance talks to reporters outdoors the White Home, Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington, as Director of the Workplace of Administration and Finances, Russell Vought, Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Chief John Thune hear.
Alex Brandon/AP
Whereas the American public has sided with Democrats in previous shutdowns, it has been in fights during which Republicans tried to extract coverage modifications.
After the shutdown over defunding Obamacare in 2013, 53% of respondents to an ABC Information/Washington Publish ballot blamed Republicans for the shutdown, in comparison with 29% who blamed then-President Barack Obama, and 15% who blamed either side equally.
After Trump led Republicans right into a futile shutdown to extract border wall funding from the Democrat-led Home in January 2018, 48% of respondents blamed the president and Republicans for the shutdown, in comparison with 28% who faulted Democrats, based on an ABC News/Washington Post poll.
With roles reversed, Democrats could possibly be in line to get blamed for a brand new shutdown. And Republicans accountable for each chambers might pressure messaging votes that underscore Democrats’ opposition to funding the federal government and the providers its supplies.
However this is probably not a typical funding combat, given the Trump administration’s threats to make use of the shutdown to fireplace much more federal employees, and ongoing efforts to dam spending agreements already accepted by Congress over coverage disputes.
Many Democratic voters have additionally pushed their leaders to tackle the Trump administration extra forcefully, and a shutdown could possibly be a venue for doing so, regardless of the potential affect on authorities providers.
If Congress cannot attain a deal, and the federal government shuts down, it is not clear how lengthy an deadlock will final. It is also not clear how lengthy voters will maintain it towards Washington leaders, greater than a yr away from the 2026 midterms.
However all eyes shall be on congressional leaders who now discover themselves in sudden roles.
