Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has announced he will support a Republican-backed government funding bill, a decision that has enraged House Democrats who had strongly opposed the measure. His reversal comes as Congress rushes to pass a stopgap resolution before the looming shutdown deadline.
Schumer, who had previously advocated for an alternative short-term funding plan, said on the Senate floor that while the GOP proposal was “very bad,” the consequences of a shutdown would be much worse. He warned that failing to pass the bill would give Trump and his allies an opportunity to seize greater control over the government.
His remarks set off a wave of outrage among House Democrats, who viewed the Senate’s move as a betrayal. One lawmaker described the internal reaction as a “total collapse” of party unity. Reports indicate that progressive members are already floating names of potential challengers to Schumer and other Senate Democrats who plan to vote for the measure.
At a House Democratic retreat Thursday, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) commended members for standing against the bill, earning a standing ovation. However, when he referenced Senate Democrats, the crowd responded with loud boos, reflecting the deep division over the issue.
Schumer’s comments during an MSNBC appearance later in the day only added to the controversy. While discussing the funding fight, he referred to Republicans as “bastards” before quickly retracting the statement. He went on to accuse Trump and Musk of using the shutdown threat to push their agenda and dismantle federal agencies.
Trump responded to Schumer’s announcement by calling it the right decision. With a narrow GOP majority in the Senate, at least eight Democrats will need to vote in favor of the bill for it to pass. As the deadline approaches, House Democrats are making a last-ditch effort to pressure their Senate colleagues to reject the measure.
With tensions boiling over, some lawmakers have signaled that they are prepared to take drastic steps to hold Senate Democrats accountable, including financially backing primary challengers in upcoming elections.
