Senate Democratic leader to vote for Republican budget to avoid government shutdown

WashingtonThe possibility of a government shutdown under Donald Trump's new administration is fading at the hands of the Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has announced he will vote for the Republican-sponsored bill to fund the government through September 30. Schumer broke with his party's position shortly before the Friday midnight deadline. A government shutdown will then occur if the budget fails to pass the Senate vote. Republicans need the support of at least eight Democratic congressmen to reach the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster.

Schumer appeared on the Senate floor Thursday to announce he would pave the way for the Republican bill, although on Wednesday afternoon he declined to support it, citing his view of being too "partisan." The New York senator argued that allowing a shutdown would give even more power to Trump and Elon Musk in their campaign to dismantle the administration. Schumer has suggested that, in the event of a government shutdown, Trump could decide to "select which parts of the government to reopen during an extended shutdown."

Despite being the bane of any administration, a government shutdown could actually be favorable for Musk and Trump amid efforts to dismantle the government. In fact, the Democrat believes that being able to selectively decide which agencies to fund would make it easier for Trump to let "other vital services he doesn't like die." A government shutdown means that non-essential federal workers are suspended and sent home until a budget is passed, while essential workers continue to work without pay until the government reopens. Since 2019, government shutdowns have retroactive effect on federal workers' salaries, and they regain their pay once the shutdown is lifted. The new administration has been placing federal workers on administrative leave. motu proprio while he looks for ways to fire the officials.

On Wednesday, Schumer himself criticized the Republican-drafted funding proposal, which would keep last year's spending level unchanged but would subtract $13 billion from other items to allocate $6 billion to defense. The text also includes a provision that would leave lawmakers without the power to force a vote to override the president's power to impose tariffs. Democrats criticize the text for not including any of their proposed amendments and for attempting to allocate funds to priority elements of the presidential agenda. For example, the document provides an additional $485 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help expedite deportations.

Some voices within the Democratic Party have already come out to criticize Schumer's decision. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told CNN that it would be a "mistake" for the Democrat not to block the bill. "I hope that the people who are considering it will reconsider," Ocasio-Cortez said. "I really hope so. I don't think that's what New Yorkers want." Schumer is also a congressman from New York.

Schumer's vote is not enough to guarantee that the bill will advance in the vote scheduled for Friday morning. The Democrat did not want to comment on whether he has the necessary support to approve the budget, but sources close to the matter explained to the Wall Street Journal who does have support within the party.

In recent days, Democrats have debated intensely over a poisoned decision: either they push through a government shutdown and take the fall for the chaos it would entail, or they side with Trump and vote for the proposed budget. "If there's a shutdown, even the Democrats admit it's their fault," the president said Thursday during his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

"What everyone is saying is that either outcome is terrible," said Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico. "This president has put us in a position where, either way, a lot of people's constituents are going to get hurt, badly. So it's up to the people to decide which one that is."

If the Democrats ultimately avoid a government shutdown on Friday, the picture will not be at all favorable for Democrats who are still studying how to begin mounting a real opposition to Trump. Since the Republican came to power, paralysis has gripped the party, which must not only think of strategies to try to contain the president (who controls all three branches of government) but also how to regain votes ahead of the midterm elections.

Should a government shutdown ultimately occur, many federal employees will be temporarily suspended, adding further chaos to the chaos already caused by Musk's assault on institutions.

The last time the United States experienced a government shutdown was in 2018, during Trump's first presidency, and it lasted about 35 days. It was the longest government shutdown in more than forty years in the US. Furthermore, it was the second time that Republicans failed to secure enough support in Congress to pass the budget.