Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) seems to be in a tough spot. Back in mid-March, when Congress convened, he, along with nine fellow Democrats, decided to support a measure to fund the government for the balance of fiscal year 2025. They joined nearly all Republicans, securing enough votes—over 60—to fend off a filibuster.
However, Schumer and most of his Democratic colleagues later voted against the continuing resolution, which still managed to pass with over 51 votes. Schumer’s rationale? He believed that a government shutdown could lead to even worse outcomes if Trump were to take the presidency. During the shutdown, federal employees could be dismissed indiscriminately, and services he was against could be eliminated. Still, his stance has stirred frustration among many party members, hinting at unrest within the ranks.
As the government shutdown reaches its fourth week today, Schumer and other Senate Democrats are reinstated, opposing a “clean” continuing resolution from the House unless it reinstates Affordable Care Act tax subsidies that were previously cut. Ironically, Schumer seems to wear the dubious badge of a seer in a party that isn’t quite sure how to interpret the president’s potential actions during a government shutdown.
The president has given the Office of Management and Budget the nod to eliminate 4,000 “non-essential” jobs across several government agencies, and there are likely more cuts coming. Furthermore, billions allocated for infrastructure and transportation projects are being halted. What this means is that any eventual reopening of the government after a new continuing resolution might not be substantial but rather a scaled-down version of what was hoped for.
A ruling from a Northern United States District Court Judge in California reaffirmed last Friday that the president can’t simply terminate thousands of federal workers without adhering to due process requirements set by law. Yet, this ruling could face challenges as it makes its way to the Supreme Court. The judicial system seems poised to play a larger role in this ongoing shutdown, with numerous lawsuits filed by individuals impacted by governmental actions that skirt legal protections.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speculated that this could become the longest government shutdown on record, eclipsing the previous 34-day sprawl during Trump’s presidency that revolved around funding a southern border wall. In the meantime, White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett expressed a rather optimistic view during a CNBC interview, suggesting that Schumer’s shutdown might wrap up this week. This optimism is, however, complicated by threats of more severe funding cuts aimed at Democratic states and districts.
Senate Minority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has promised to consider votes on Obamacare tax subsidies once the continuing resolution passes, though Schumer and his colleagues have yet to take up this offer.
Theoretically, this Republican majority’s support for the president’s unilateral funding cuts might be seen as a small act of democracy. Whether this aligns with public opinion and Congress’s ability to harmonize voter needs with broader national priorities is dubious at best.
As public sentiment sways, political dynamics become increasingly intertwined. With midterm elections looming, it’s likely that the president’s influence on his party members will rise and fall as needed.
Trump has addressed some shifts in sentiment within his party, like reallocating research and development funds through the Pentagon to continue paying military personnel, partially restoring some of the Centers for Disease Control’s budget that had been eliminated.
Many Americans seem weary of the recurring cycle of government shutdowns, accepting them as a part of political life that will eventually resolve. However, the drain on resources that affects everyday people may lead to increasing frustration among constituents.
In past shutdowns, it was often presumed that resolutions would simply revert things back to normal. However, such assumptions may be outdated. It seems unlikely that the government will function as it once did post-shutdown. This raises concerns about how future shutdowns will impact the governance system.
