Schumer refuses to step down amid Democrat funding bill feud
3 Min Read
Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, has faced backlash from within his own party after he voted in favor of a Republican-led funding bill to prevent a government shutdown.
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Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer speaks to a reporter near the Senate chamber, as the Senate works to avert a partial government shutdown ahead of the midnight deadline, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP)
Chuck Schumer resisted calls to step down from his position as the top Senate Democrat after he voted in favor of the Republican-led funding bill to avert a government shutdown, declaring on Sunday, “I’m not stepping down.”
Schumer has faced significant backlash from his fellow Democrats for supporting the bill, with many accusing him of failing to stand firm against Donald Trump's agenda.
In an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, Schumer defended his vote, stating, “I knew when I cast my vote against … the government shutdown … that there would be a lot of controversy.” While acknowledging that the funding bill was "certainly bad," he emphasized that a shutdown would have been far worse, estimating it would have been "15 or 20 times worse."
Schumer argued that Trump ally Elon Musk and his so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) would have used a shutdown to "eviscerate the federal government," which he believed would have been "devastating."
'A vote of principle'
Describing his decision as a "vote of principle," Schumer added, "You have to do things to avoid a real danger that might come down the curve. And I did it out of pure conviction as to what a leader should do and what the right thing for America and my party was. People disagree.”
When asked if he believed he was making the same mistake as Joe Biden did last year when he resisted stepping aside for new Democratic leadership, Schumer responded, “No, absolutely not,” and continued, “Our caucus is united in fighting Donald Trump every step of the way. Our goal, our plan, which we’re united on, is to make Donald Trump the quickest lame duck in modern history by showing how bad his policies are.”
The wider context
This pushback comes after Maryland Representative Glenn Ivey became the first Democrat to publicly call for Schumer’s resignation. At a town hall, Ivey said, “I respect Chuck Schumer. I think he had a great career … But it may be time for Senate Democrats to get a new leader.”
Meanwhile, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Schumer for what she saw as an “acquiesce” to the Republican bill, especially after nearly all House Democrats voted against it.
“There are members of Congress who have won Trump-held districts in some of the most difficult territory in the United States who walked the plank and took innumerable risks in order to defend the American people,” she remarked.
“Just to see Senate Democrats even consider acquiescing to Elon Musk, I think, is a huge slap in the face,” Ocasio-Cortez concluded.
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