On March 14, ten Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, voted alongside Republicans to allow a continuing resolution to pass that would keep the government open, but make extreme funding cuts to vital programs and give Donald Trump and Elon Musk even more control of federal spending.
After House Democrats (besides Jared Golden) united to reject the CR, most Senate Dems were ready to hold the line and insist on a clean short-term CR instead, that would fund the government while Congress negotiated a funding bill that had safeguards to stop the Trump-Musk coup. Democrats had leverage - 60 votes were needed in the Senate. But then these 10 Democrats caved, giving up their only leverage to not just block the Republican CR but to rein in Trump and Musk. And their surrender was facilitated by Schumer.
Government employee unions insisted this bill would be worse than a shutdown for the public services we rely on. Litigators fighting Trump in court insisted the bill would be worse for holding Trump accountable with legal challenges. And while shutdowns cause harm to folks who rely on public services, Republicans proactively said they would immediately undermine the bill if it passed and illegally slash programs and funding. But Schumer ignored these concerns and surrendered, and the bill passed - paving the way for Trump and Musk to continue their power grab. This was a massive betrayal of his party, of Democratic voters, and of our democracy.
The stakes are too high to let this abdication of responsibility slide. Schumer is not driving a real strategy to oppose Trump, so it’s time for a change and for fresh leadership. Democrats need a Minority Leader who is willing to fight back against the Trump-Musk coup, and it’s clear that Schumer isn’t up to the task. We need new leadership to survive!
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