REPORT: Democrats Trigger Schumer-Led Government Shutdown With No Exit Plan in Sight
As the clock ticks down to a midnight government shutdown, Senate Democrats — led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — are poised to filibuster a clean, short-term spending bill, virtually guaranteeing a lapse in government funding. Despite the looming crisis, Democrats are offering no clear path to end the shutdown they are helping to initiate.
The Republican-sponsored measure would have kept the government funded through November 21, buying more time for negotiations. But Democrats, demanding $1.5 trillion in unrelated policy concessions, have refused to support the extension — despite not presenting a viable alternative.
“It’s right now impossible to say — there are about 20 different possible exit ramps — some of them good, some of them troubling,” admitted Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) when asked about the Democrats’ strategy.
Hours before the deadline, even Senate Republicans were left baffled by the Democrats’ lack of a coherent plan to end the shutdown once it begins.
“I don’t think my Democratic friends have thought through how to get this thing back open,” said Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA). “And I don’t think they have thought through what I believe the OMB Director is going to do while the government is shut down.”
Kennedy warned that the Trump administration could leverage the shutdown to reduce federal workforce numbers or cut funding to programs typically favored by Democrats — actions that could become permanent.
President Donald Trump echoed those concerns from the Oval Office on Tuesday, hinting that the administration may take aggressive action during the shutdown.
“We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for [Democrats] and irreversible by them, like cutting vast numbers of people out … cutting programs that they like,” Trump said.
Despite Democrats’ resistance, the White House appears ready to let the shutdown run its course — potentially using the opportunity to trim federal programs long targeted by conservatives.
While Democrats are blocking the clean resolution, they’re simultaneously placing the blame for the shutdown on Trump and Republican lawmakers.
“I’ll quote President Trump as he’s said repeatedly, ‘It’s the responsibility of the president to keep the government open.’ Those are his words. I believe him,” said Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA). “They control every part of the government. It’s the president’s job.”
Meanwhile, others like Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are banking on Republicans eventually buckling to Democrat demands. “At some point they’re going to come to the table realistically because there’ll be such mounting pressure,” Blumenthal said.
Those demands include reversing cuts to foreign aid, restoring public broadcasting funds, and extending COVID-era healthcare subsidies that are not set to expire until year’s end.
Photo credit: Flickr
