Republicans have insisted that Democrats will bear responsibility if a government shutdown occurs. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has repeatedly stated that Schumer must propose a concrete health care plan if he hopes to reach a deal. Thune noted the looming expiration of expanded tax credits for Affordable Care Act coverage and suggested that some Republicans are open to extending the credits before year’s end.
Schumer and his colleagues, however, are demanding more. They want the Medicaid cuts passed under Trump’s tax and spending legislation rolled back and assurances that the White House will not reverse funds already approved by Congress. The Trump administration blocked $4.9 billion in foreign aid in August and previously enacted a $9 billion cut in July, actions that Democrats argue undermine congressional authority.
“How do you pass an appropriations bill and let them undo it down the road?” Schumer asked, underscoring the stakes for his party.
Partisan tensions in the Senate are intensifying. Negotiations over the confirmation process broke down again Thursday, and Republicans are seeking to modify Senate rules to bypass Democratic objections.
Schumer’s current position contrasts sharply with his March vote, when he supported keeping the government open, arguing that a shutdown would give Trump additional control. That vote, however, isolated him within his party, with most Senate Democrats opposed and House Democrats refusing to cooperate. Activists even called for his resignation at the time.
Now, Schumer and Jeffries are presenting a united front. Schumer shared internal polling with Senate Democrats showing that most Americans would likely blame Trump, not Democrats, for a shutdown. By leveraging party unity and mounting pressure on the White House, Schumer is betting that the threat of a shutdown will strengthen Democrats’ hand in the upcoming negotiations.
