Government Shutdown Looms as Schumer Threatens to Block Funding

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is willing to risk a government shutdown at the end of the month if Republicans don’t agree to Democratic demands. Schumer says he and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries are united in opposing any legislation that doesn’t include key health care provisions and a commitment not to roll them back.

Schumer argues that the country is in a different place than it was in March, when he voted with Republicans to keep the government open. He believes Republicans and President Donald Trump will be held responsible if they don’t negotiate a bipartisan deal. “Things have changed” since the March vote, Schumer said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday.

Schumer faced backlash from Democrats earlier this year when he voted with Republicans to keep the government open. However, he’s now willing to take a stronger stance and risk a shutdown. A shutdown, Schumer said, wouldn’t necessarily worsen an environment in which Trump is already challenging the authority of Congress. “It will get worse with or without it, because Trump is lawless,” Schumer said.

Democrats’ Consequential Decision

Schumer’s threat comes as Republicans are considering a short-term stopgap spending measure to avoid a Sept. 30 shutdown. Democrats face two tough choices if the parties can’t negotiate a deal: vote with Republicans to keep the government open or let it close indefinitely with no clear exit plan.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., takes questions at a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Republicans Move Ahead

Republicans say Democrats will be to blame if they don’t vote to keep the government open. Trump said Friday to not “even bother” negotiating with Democrats, adding that Republicans will likely put together a continuing resolution to keep funding the federal government.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., believes Democrats see it as “politically advantageous” to have a shutdown. “But they don’t have a good reason to do it,” Thune said in an interview with Punchbowl News on Thursday.

Thune has repeatedly said that Schumer needs to approach Republicans with a specific proposal on health care, including an extension of expanded government tax credits for many Americans who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

Escalating Partisan Tensions Over Spending

Schumer said Democrats also want Republicans to commit that the White House won’t take back money they have negotiated and Congress has approved. Congress is facing the funding deadline Sept. 30 because Republicans and Democrats are still working out their differences on several annual budget bills.

A shutdown means federal agencies will stop all actions deemed nonessential, and millions of federal employees, including members of the military, won’t receive paychecks. The most recent shutdown — and the longest ever — was during Trump’s first term in 2018 and into 2019, when he demanded money for his U.S.-Mexico border wall. It lasted 35 days.

Schumer’s March Vote

Schumer’s move to support the spending legislation in March put him in the rare position of bucking his party’s base. He said then that of two bad options, a partial government shutdown was worse because it would give Trump even more control to lay off workers and there would be “no off-ramp” to get out of it.

This time, though, Schumer is in lockstep with Jeffries and in messaging within his caucus. In Democrats’ closed-door lunch Wednesday, he shared polling that he said suggested most Americans would blame Trump, not Democrats, for a shutdown. “I did what I thought was right” in March, Schumer said. “It’s a different situation now than then.”

Conclusion

The threat of a government shutdown looms as Schumer and Democrats take a stronger stance against Republican demands. With the funding deadline approaching, it remains to be seen whether the two parties can come to an agreement or if the government will shut down. One thing is certain, though: the consequences of a shutdown will be far-reaching and felt by millions of Americans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a government shutdown?

A: A government shutdown occurs when the federal government stops providing nonessential services due to a lack of funding. This can happen when Congress and the President cannot agree on a budget or spending bill.

Q: What services are affected by a government shutdown?

A: Nonessential services such as national parks, museums, and passport services are typically affected by a government shutdown. Essential services like law enforcement, healthcare, and social security continue to operate.

Q: Who is responsible for a government shutdown?

A: The responsibility for a government shutdown can be attributed to both Congress and the President. Congress must pass a budget or spending bill, and the President must sign it into law. If they cannot come to an agreement, a shutdown can occur.

Q: How long can a government shutdown last?

A: A government shutdown can last for a few days or several weeks. The longest shutdown in U.S. history occurred in 2018-2019 and lasted 35 days.