‘A Lousy Deal’: Hakeem Jeffries Blasts Senate Democrats As ‘Furious Civil War’ Erupts Over ‘Awful’ Shutdown Compromise

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) isn’t holding back. In an interview Monday, Jeffries ripped into eight Senate Democrats who sided with Republicans to advance a spending bill that leaves out an extension of key health care subsidies — a move that’s now tearing the Democratic Party apart.

Speaking with attorney and political commentator Aaron Parnas, Jeffries made it clear he believes Senate Democrats caved at the worst possible moment. “Initially there was one Democrat – [Sen. John] Fetterman (D-PA) – who voted with the Republicans, and then I think two additional Democrats joined him during the first and second vote,” Jeffries said, recounting how the deal began to unravel.

“Then it appeared that – led by I guess the senior senator from New Hampshire – there had been ongoing negotiations to try to get to a resolution. I had not had any conversations with her, I don’t know her, [and] I’m confused as to why she made the decision to take this approach in the face of the overwhelming public sentiment that Democrats are on the right side of this fight.”

Jeffries was referring to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who reportedly played a major role in pushing the compromise. Adding to the tension, her own daughter — a Democratic congressional candidate — publicly broke with her over the decision.

The government shutdown has now dragged on for 41 days, triggered by Democrats’ refusal to back a spending bill that didn’t include an extension of Obamacare subsidies. Those subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year, potentially stripping health coverage from 4 million Americans and doubling premiums for 22 million more.

Despite that, enough Senate Democrats crossed over to give Republicans the votes they needed to move the short-term funding bill forward. The proposal temporarily funds the government through January and promises a vote in December on extending Obamacare tax credits — but that vote would require 60 votes to pass, making it largely symbolic.

Jeffries blasted the move and vowed to fight it in the House. “We can’t let a handful of random senators take us off track as it relates to the fight that we’re waging to lower the high cost of living, to fix our broken health care system and to clean up corruption,” he said.

The backlash inside the party was immediate — and brutal. According to The Daily Beast, a “furious civil war” has erupted among Democrats furious over what they see as a total collapse of leverage.

The eight Senate Democrats who voted with Republicans were Shaheen, Fetterman, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Sen. Angus King (I-ME), who caucuses with Democrats.

Progressives erupted. “It’s complete BS. A concept of a possible vote,” Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) said, summing up the outrage among liberals who feel betrayed.

An anonymous House Democrat told Axios, “People are furious. It’s an awful deal and a total failure to use leverage for anything real.”

Ezra Levin, co-founder of the grassroots group Indivisible, didn’t sugarcoat it either: “This ‘deal’ is a surrender that all congressional Democrats should reject out of hand.”

MoveOn joined in, blasting the compromise as a betrayal of working families. Through a spokesperson, the group said “too many Democrats in Congress” had failed to listen to voters and warned the deal would “screw over millions of working Americans.”

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) called it “a lousy deal to me,” while Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) said, “I assume all of us that have been fighting to protect our constituents from soaring healthcare costs will vote against this.”

The anger isn’t confined to the public statements, either. Democratic group chats have been on fire, with one member describing “near universal frustration,” adding, “Everyone seems to be united that we should be opposed and that this isn’t a good deal.”

Even Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who opposed the bill, isn’t escaping blame. Many Democrats reportedly believe he’s “wholly failed to lead his caucus” through the crisis.

For Jeffries and House progressives, the fight is far from over. They see this as a defining moment — not just about the shutdown, but about what kind of party Democrats want to be.

Watch the clip below:

🚨 Hakeem Jeffries blasts the Senate Democrats who voted to reopen the government in his first reaction after last night: "We can't let a handful of random Senators take us off track." pic.twitter.com/s1IkwueCiv

— Aaron Parnas (@AaronParnas) November 10, 2025