On Friday, a group of 10 Senate Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), voted with Republicans to move a Republican-backed bill forward to fund the government through September 30. This vote is a critical step to avoid a government shutdown, but it angered many within the Democratic Party.
The vote passed 62-28, setting the stage for the bill to likely pass in the Senate later that afternoon, despite strong opposition from many Democrats.
The Democrats who voted to move the bill forward included Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.), Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Angus King (Maine), an independent who caucuses with Democrats.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) announced that they had reached an agreement to immediately advance the House-passed funding bill, with plans to consider four amendments.
One amendment, sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), would reinstate federal employees fired under the Trump administration. Another, sponsored by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), aims to eliminate the Department of Government Efficiency. A third, from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), would put into law the cuts to foreign assistance recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency.
None of the amendments are expected to pass.
Schumer had warned earlier in the week that a government shutdown would give figures like President Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk too much power to hurt federal workers and agencies. On the Senate floor before the vote, Schumer said, “Government funding expires at midnight tonight. As I announced yesterday, I will vote to keep the government open. I believe it is the best way to minimize the harm that the Trump administration will do to the American people.”
Fetterman, who represents Pennsylvania, a state Trump won in 2024, said he voted to advance the GOP bill because he feared a shutdown would hurt too many people. “What’s the exit plan once we shut the government down? What about the millions of Americans who are going to have their lives damaged?” he asked.
However, Schumer’s decision to support the bill, which he admitted was a “very bad” bill, sparked anger from many in his party, especially from progressives.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said Schumer was making a “tremendous mistake.” She expressed her frustration, saying there was “a deep sense of outrage and betrayal” among many Democrats. She accused Schumer of betraying House Democrats who had voted against the bill earlier in the week, including those in districts Trump won in 2024.
House Democratic leaders had been urging Senate Democrats to block the bill. “We’re standing on the side of working families, and that’s why our message to the Senate is also: Stand with us on that side,” said House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (Mass.).
Before the vote, when asked if he had lost confidence in Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) simply responded, “Next question.”
Several Senate Democrats, including Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) and Jon Ossoff (Ga.), also opposed the bill. Slotkin argued that the bill would harm Michigan’s infrastructure and the Department of Veterans Affairs, while Ossoff criticized it for failing to curb the actions of the Trump administration.
The group of progressive activists Pass the Torch called for Schumer to resign as Senate Minority Leader, but Schumer defended his choice. He called the decision a “Hobson’s choice,” meaning a situation where there is really only one option. He argued that the House bill, though bad, was still a better choice than allowing Trump and his allies to gain more power by letting the government shut down.
Schumer has faced pushback from progressives within his own party, such as Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Sanders argued that passing the House GOP bill would only make America’s problems worse, especially for working people, and would help billionaires like Musk. Merkley expressed his firm opposition, saying, “You don’t stop a bully by handing over your lunch money, and you don’t stop a tyrant by giving him more power.”
Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), a freshman, said he understood why Schumer and other Democrats voted to advance the bill, but he argued that Democrats should stand up against Trump and his allies. “I personally believe you need to stand up to that type of action,” Kim said, acknowledging that a shutdown would be damaging but stressing that they shouldn’t give in to those pushing for it.
