Will Senate Democrats Shut Down the Government?

Now That the House Has Voted to Keep the Government Open, Senate Democrats Must Choose Between Appeasing Progressive Activists and Meeting the Needs of the American People

BOWING TO FAR-LEFT PRESSURE, HOUSE DEMOCRATS VOTED TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT

Nearly every House Democrat voted to shut down the government. (NOTUS’ Reese Gorman: post on X – 3/11/25)

How we got here:

“The Senate minority leader and his House counterpart are both under pressure from within their party to do more to stop Trump and Elon Musk’s unilateral cuts to federal programs.” (Politico: Capitol agenda: Johnson’s shutdown dare for Schumer – 3/10/25)

“The Democratic base has been begging party leaders to fight harder at every turn…” (The Wall Street Journal: Democrats Backed Into a Corner in Government Shutdown Fight – 3/10/25)

Democrats’ “uncoordinated and futile protests during the president’s address to Congress last week underscored the lack of internal coherence in the party on the way ahead.” (CNN: Trump’s presidency moves into a new phase with a critical test of his power in Congress – 3/10/25)

“Jeffries wants to show his members and his base that he's willing to confront Republicans in defense of a federal bureaucracy that they say is under assault from President Trump and Elon Musk.” (Axios: House Democrats whip "NO" on GOP plan to avoid government shutdown – 3/10/25)

SENATE DEMOCRATS NOW HAVE A CHOICE: FUND THE GOVERNMENT OR CAVE TO THEIR BASE AND PLUNGE INTO A SHUTDOWN

“I think the American people are going to be interested to see whether the Democrats are going to filibuster – and, by filibustering, shut down the federal government. It is on them if this happens.” – Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.)

Now that the House has passed a funding bill, “Senate Democrats will have to decide whether they’ll push back on Trump and force a shutdown, or stand down to keep the government running.” (Politico: Capitol agenda: Johnson’s shutdown dare for Schumer – 3/10/25)

Democrats’ “position is far murkier in the Senate, showcasing stark divisions within the party over how far Democrats are willing to go against Trump.” (CNN: House Democrats push to sink GOP spending bill but Senate Dems act coy – 3/11/25)

“Even with Trump and the GOP in charge of Washington, some Senate Democrats privately worry they could be blamed for a funding lapse. But others believe they risk backlash from their base if Democrats are seen as folding in the fight without a single concession from Trump.” (CNN: House Democrats push to sink GOP spending bill but Senate Dems act coy – 3/11/25)

“Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a top House progressive, said it’s ‘very important’ for Schumer and the party to block the bill in the Senate… Asked what happens if eight Democrats back the plan in the Senate, Jayapal retorted: ‘That’s not going to happen.’” (CNN: House Democrats push to sink GOP spending bill but Senate Dems act coy – 3/11/25)

“[I]f Democrats do block the bill and are instrumental in shutting down the government and vital services, they risk hurting their own constituents…” (CNN: Trump’s presidency moves into a new phase with a critical test of his power in Congress – 3/10/25)

“The drama ahead of Friday’s funding deadline could have a serious impact on the lives and well-being of millions of Americans. A shutdown could force essential government workers to go without pay and see many more furloughed. It would disrupt services including airport security, border crossings and national parks.” (CNN: Trump’s presidency moves into a new phase with a critical test of his power in Congress – 3/10/25)

“And there’s political peril, too, since many Americans support the president’s aspirations to downsize the federal machine…” (CNN: Trump’s presidency moves into a new phase with a critical test of his power in Congress – 3/10/25)

AFTER REFUSING TO TAKE UP A SINGLE APPROPRIATIONS BILL LAST YEAR, SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE NO SERIOUS STRATEGY TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT

“And so if Schumer wants to have another Schumer shutdown like he did in 2018, that'll be up to him. The Democrats will make a decision now, if they're going to shut down the government or they're not. Republicans will do our part. They're going to deliver it, as Speaker Johnson said in the House, we will deliver our 50 plus votes in the Senate, and then it'll be up to Schumer to deliver the rest of them.” – Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.)

“Senate Democrats are saying little about how they’ll handle a take-it-or-leave-it option that could lead to a paralyzing — and politically toxic — shutdown.” (CNN: House Democrats push to sink GOP spending bill but Senate Dems act coy – 3/11/25)

“Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, released a statement Saturday slamming the measure… signaling that she, and… others in leadership, would oppose the bill.” (The Hill: Johnson looks to pass stopgap as government shutdown deadline looms – 3/10/25)

Senate Democrats have been calling to resume negotiations on appropriations bills they shelved all of last year, “in what seems more like a public relations exercise than a serious political strategy.” (CNN: Trump’s presidency moves into a new phase with a critical test of his power in Congress – 3/10/25)

Thanks to Senate Democrats last year, “Congress drop[ped] the ball on annual spending bills:” (Punchbowl News AM: The appropriations mess rolls on – 7/31/24)

“The Senate Appropriations Committee will have approved 11 of the 12 funding bills… But none of these bills have been to the floor yet.” (Punchbowl News AM: The appropriations mess rolls on – 7/31/24)

“[I]t means that all 100 senators don’t have a chance to shape the final product. That can only be done on the floor.” (Punchbowl News AM: The appropriations mess rolls on – 7/31/24)

Instead of bringing up appropriations bills for a vote, “Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer [embraced] the art of the ‘show vote’…” (Punchbowl News AM: Are House Republicans setting themselves up to fail? – 6/5/24)