
Schumer flipped on government funding. Here’s why progressives aren’t happy
Published UpdatedBy Ray Bogan (Political Correspondent), Snorre Wik (Photographer/Video Editor)
- Sen. Chuck Schumer says he’s weighed the consequences of a government shutdown, and is willing to vote for the House-approved funding bill. He said that while the bill was bad, “a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse.”
- Some Democrats worry that a shutdown could be used by the Trump administration to fire more federal workers.
- But there is dissent, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez saying, “To me it is almost unthinkable why Senate Democrats would vote to hand the few pieces of leverage that we have away for free.”
Full Story
Some Senate Democrats are about to vote for a government funding bill that they strongly opposed, and still describe as very bad. But with a government shutdown imminent and uncertainty about how it would impact federal workers and the economy, their leader has announced it’s best to vote to keep the government open, two days after he said Democrats would not support the package on the table.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn moreBias Summary
- Hundreds protested in Brooklyn, New York, against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's support for a Republican budget extension.
- Schumer's backing allows the GOP to pass the measure with a simple majority, despite opposition from most House Democrats.
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the decision, calling the legislation an extreme spending bill that sacrifices congressional authority.
- The continuing resolution, passed by the House, includes significant budget cuts while increasing military spending.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed outrage at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's plan to allow a Republican funding bill to advance.
- Ocasio-Cortez plans to mobilize her base to oppose Schumer's decision, accusing Senate Democrats of betrayal.
- Some House Democrats have privately encouraged Ocasio-Cortez to challenge Schumer in a primary due to their anger over his stance.
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is mobilizing Democrats against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's plan to vote for a Republican-backed stopgap bill to avoid a partial government shutdown.
- If a funding bill is not passed in time, a partial government shutdown, in which non-essential federal employees will be furloughed, is set to begin at the end of Friday.
- Ocasio-Cortez stated that not voting against invoking cloture on the Republican continuing resolution would be a "mistake" for Democrats.
- Schumer expressed concerns over allowing President Donald Trump to gain more power through a government shutdown, emphasizing that it is "far worse" than supporting the Republican funding patch.
Bias Comparison
Bias Distribution
Left
Right
Untracked Bias
“While the CR bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said during a speech Thursday, March 13.
Schumer gave multiple reasons for changing his vote, which gives his caucus the green light to vote yes as well.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
Democrats said the biggest concern is that Donald Trump could determine which employees are essential and have to continue working without pay and which get furloughed. They contend that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) could also use it as a tool to essentially lay more people off.
“Under a shutdown, the Trump administration would have full authority to deem whole agencies, programs and personnel nonessential, furloughing staff with no promise that they would ever be rehired,” Schumer said.
Not all Democrats are ready to vote for the bill
House Democrats voted nearly in unison against the funding package. Progressives are not happy with Schumer’s decision.
“To me it is almost unthinkable why Senate Democrats would vote to hand the few pieces of leverage that we have away for free,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said on CNN.
Sen. John Fetterman appeared to be the only Senate Democrat who said he’d vote in favor of the bill, even before Schumer flipped his stance.
Democrats had been asking for a 30-day extension so a deal could be made on funding that would last for the rest of the year. They described the current package in stark terms.
“I’m just talking about the outrage that what the Republicans are doing is not a CR, it’s a license to destroy,” Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., told reporters Thursday morning.
Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Sign up for the newsletter today!
Learn more about our emails. Unsubscribe anytime.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
What are Republicans saying?
Republicans say that it’s the fault of Democrats that they’re in this position in the first place.
Congress needs to pass 12 appropriations bills every year to fund the government. Last year, when Democrats had the majority, Schumer didn’t hold a vote on any of them, despite the fact that they had bipartisan support.
“Month after month, leader Schumer found something more important to do than fund the government. And not one, one of those bipartisan bills ever came to the floor. So today we’re trying to finish up last year’s work so we can begin,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said.
This budget package is just the beginning of the budget battle for Congress. It’s already time to begin work on government funding for fiscal year 2026, which begins in October.
[Ray Bogan]
Some Senate Democrats are about to vote for a government funding bill they strongly opposed and still describe as very bad. But with a government shutdown imminent and uncertainty about how it would impact federal workers and the economy, their leader announced it’s best to vote to keep the government open, two days after he said Democrats would not support the package on the table.
[Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY]
“While the CR bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse.”
Schumer gave multiple reasons for changing his vote, which gives his caucus the green light to vote yes as well.
Democrats say the biggest concern is Donald Trump could determine which employees are essential and have to continue working without pay and which get furloughed. They contend the Department of Government Efficiency could use it as a tool to essentially lay more people off.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY: “Under a shutdown, the Trump administration would have full authority to deem whole agencies, programs and personnel, nonessential, furloughing staff with no promise that would ever be rehired.”
House Democrats voted nearly in unison against the funding package. Progressives are not happy with Schumer’s decision.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-NY: “To me it is almost unthinkable why Senate Democrats would vote to hand the few pieces of leverage that we have away for free.”
Senator John Fetterman appeared to be the only Senate Democrat who said he’d vote in favor of the bill, even before Schumer flipped his stance.
Democrats had been asking for a 30 day extension so a deal could be made on funding that would last for the rest of the year. They described the current package in stark terms.
Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ: “I’m just talking about the outrage that what the Republicans are doing is not a CR it’s a license to destroy.”
Republicans say it’s Democrats’ fault that they’re in this position in the first place. Congress needs to pass 12 appropriations bills every year to fund the government. Last year when Democrats had the majority, Leader Schumer didn’t hold a vote on any of them, despite the fact that they had bipartisan support.
Sen. John Thune, R-SD: “Month after month, Leader Schumer found something more important to do than fund the government. And not one, one of those bipartisan bills ever came to the floor. So today we’re trying to finish up last year’s work so we can begin.”
This budget package is almost just the beginning of the budget battle for Congress. It’s already time to begin work on government funding for fiscal year 2026 which begins in October.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn moreBias Summary
- Hundreds protested in Brooklyn, New York, against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's support for a Republican budget extension.
- Schumer's backing allows the GOP to pass the measure with a simple majority, despite opposition from most House Democrats.
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the decision, calling the legislation an extreme spending bill that sacrifices congressional authority.
- The continuing resolution, passed by the House, includes significant budget cuts while increasing military spending.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed outrage at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's plan to allow a Republican funding bill to advance.
- Ocasio-Cortez plans to mobilize her base to oppose Schumer's decision, accusing Senate Democrats of betrayal.
- Some House Democrats have privately encouraged Ocasio-Cortez to challenge Schumer in a primary due to their anger over his stance.
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is mobilizing Democrats against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's plan to vote for a Republican-backed stopgap bill to avoid a partial government shutdown.
- If a funding bill is not passed in time, a partial government shutdown, in which non-essential federal employees will be furloughed, is set to begin at the end of Friday.
- Ocasio-Cortez stated that not voting against invoking cloture on the Republican continuing resolution would be a "mistake" for Democrats.
- Schumer expressed concerns over allowing President Donald Trump to gain more power through a government shutdown, emphasizing that it is "far worse" than supporting the Republican funding patch.
Bias Comparison
Bias Distribution
Left
Right
Untracked Bias
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
MOST POPULAR
-
Reuters
American Airlines plane catches fire after emergency landing in Denver
Watch 1:198 hrs ago -
Getty Images
Columbia announces punishments for pro-Palestine protesters
Read15 hrs ago -
Getty Images
American Heart Assoc. opposes Texas SNAP regulations
Watch 5:0618 hrs ago -
Reuters
California takes out $3.4 billion loan after expanding health care to immigrants
Watch 1:17Yesterday