Chicago – March 16, 2025
Several top Democrats are criticizing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for supporting a government funding bill that was approved by Republicans. Schumer voted with Republicans to pass a continuing resolution that kept the federal government running and prevented a shutdown.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., called Schumer’s vote a “tremendous mistake.” She argued that Senate Democrats should not give up their leverage when they were elected to protect important programs like Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Other Democrats joined in the criticism. Senators Angus King, an independent who works with Democrats, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., were the only two Senate Democrats to vote for the bill. The final vote was 54 in favor and 46 against. The only Republican senator who voted against the bill was Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky.
Schumer is now facing backlash from some of his own party members, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who avoided answering questions about whether he still trusted Schumer. Some of Schumer’s allies on TV also criticized his decision.
The controversy highlights growing divisions among Democrats over how to handle government funding and the party’s priorities.
