Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reversed course Thursday evening, announcing that he will now vote for a continuing resolution (CR) that would keep the government open – and that President Donald Trump is the reason.
Senate Democrats have been filibustering to prevent a vote on a House-passed funding bill that would prevent the federal government from shutting down at midnight on Friday. But, in remarks on the Senate floor Thursday, Minority Leader Schumer said he will now vote for the bill – because a government shutdown would give Pres. Trump more ability to implement his cost-cutting agenda.
“I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option” than passing the CR, Schumer said after first criticizing to funding bill.
Schumer went on to reiterate that his opposition to Trump is the reason he’ll vote for the bill:
“Unfortunately though, this Republican Party is the party of Trump. As bad as passing the CR is, as I said, allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option.”
During a shutdown, Donald Trump and his Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) would have full authority to implement their initiative to eliminate non-essential government agencies and staff, Sen. Schumer continued:
“First, a shutdown would give Donald Trump and Elon Musk carte blanc to destroy vital government services at a significantly faster rate than they can right now. Under a shutdown, the Trump Administration would have full authority to deem whole agencies, programs and personnel ‘non-essential,’ furloughing staff with no promise they would ever be rehired.
“The decision on what is essential would be solely left to the Executive Branch, with nobody left at the agencies to check them.”
“In short, a shutdown would give Donald Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE and (OMB Director) Vought the keys to the city, state and the country,” Schumer said. “A shutdown would give Donald Trump the keys to the city, state and the country,” Schumer repeated.
Despite the minority leader’s announcement, however, not all Senate Democrats appear willing to vote for cloture Friday and allow the CR to be passed before the midnight deadline.
UPDATE: Friday evening, ten Democrat senators joined with Republicans to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to break the filibuster and allow a vote on the CR.