Senate Democratic Chief Chuck Schumer introduced Thursday night time that he plans to vote to maintain the federal government open, signaling that there’ll virtually actually 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 severe final result.
“Whereas the Republican invoice may be very unhealthy, the potential for a shutdown has penalties for America which are a lot a lot worse. For certain, the Republican invoice is a horrible choice,” he mentioned. “It’s not a clear CR” or persevering with decision, he mentioned. “It’s deeply partisan. It does not deal with far too a lot of this nation’s wants, however I consider permitting Donald Trump to take even far more energy in a authorities shutdown is a far worse choice.”
Republicans, Schumer argued, are responsible 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 mentioned many occasions there aren’t any winners in a authorities shutdown. However there are actually victims: essentially the most susceptible Individuals who depend on federal applications to feed their households to entry medical care and to remain financially afloat,” Schumer mentioned.
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 choice 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 providers at a considerably sooner charge than they will proper now. Beneath as shutdown the Trump administration would have full authority to deem complete companies applications an personnel nonessential, furloughing employees with no promise they might ever be rehired,” Schumer mentioned. “In brief: a shut down would give Donald Trump Elon musk and DOGE the keys to town state and nation.”
Earlier Thursday, Schumer instructed his Democratic colleagues throughout a closed-door lunch that he would vote to clear a path for remaining passage of a Home-GOP funding invoice, sources acquainted with the matter instructed ABC Information.
That transfer would clear the way in which for Republicans to go 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 mentioned as she left the weekly lunch.
“Ask any individual else,” Democratic Sen. Cory Booker grumbled.
“I haven’t got any remark,” mentioned Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
A number of Democrats have privately admitted they probably haven’t got the votes to dam a Republican proposal to maintain the federal government funded by September, a number of sources instructed ABC Information.
Tensions have been on full show on the personal assembly. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was yelling so loudly in regards to the influence of a shutdown that reporters may hear her by the partitions.
One Democrat who spoke on the situation of anonymity instructed ABC Information, “We misplaced this two weeks in the past … we must 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 exterior 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 social gathering leaders after he urged Republicans to maintain authorities open previously when Democrats managed the higher chamber.
“By no means, ever, ever, ever, ever shut the federal government down,” Fetterman instructed reporters on the Capitol on Thursday afternoon. “Democrat, Republican, independents, anybody. By no means shut the federal government down. That is one in every of our core duties.”
Fetterman referred to as the political stress “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 anxious that furloughed staff and folks relying on federal providers are those who’re “actually going to harm.”
Now that Republicans cleared their invoice by the Home, Fetterman mentioned he believes the battle is over.
Fetterman mentioned 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’re going to vote for a flawed CR?’ And now for me, I refuse to close the federal government down.”
Schumer on Wednesday mentioned Senate Democrats would not provide the votes wanted for Republicans to advance the Home-approved deal to fund the federal government by September. As an alternative, 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 mentioned as he took reporter questions whereas assembly with NATO Secretary Normal Mark Rutte within the Oval Workplace on Thursday.
Trump was requested whether or not he is step in to barter with Democrats and he mentioned he would if Republicans requested it: “In the event that they want me, I am there 100%.”
