Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York exits the Democratic caucus lunch at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on March 13, 2025. This article is featured in The D.C. Brief, TIME’s politics newsletter. To receive similar stories in your inbox, sign up here. The Senate’s recent decision to prevent a government shutdown by relinquishing spending authority to President Donald Trump, essentially reducing Congress to an advisory role, was a significant retreat that has left the Democratic base deeply disappointed.
The frustration within the Democratic ranks was primarily directed at Schumer, who had indicated the day before that the battle was over and it was time to move on. The Senate was faced with the choice of either keeping a scaled-down government operational or shutting it down, and the decision made was clear.
However, this resolution did not sit well with many in the party. When asked on Friday about the possibility of a new leadership team for Senate Democrats, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries avoided supporting Schumer, simply saying, “Next question.” In other circles, there were discussions about potentially challenging Schumer in the upcoming 2028 elections.
Nine Senate Democrats, along with Independent Angus King of Maine who caucuses with them, sided with nearly all Senate Republicans to avert a government shutdown. The temporary spending measure grants the White House greater authority to close numerous federal functions established by Congress and eliminate thousands of jobs. Effectively, Congress has empowered an executive branch with increased autonomy over allocated funds until September 30.
Overall, this has been a challenging week for Democrats, marked by turmoil from the Trump administration and the looming threat of a government shutdown. The House Republicans’ partisan spending proposal, particularly its severe cuts to the District of Columbia, added to the Democrats’ frustrations. With the House adjourning without giving the Senate an opportunity to amend the spending plan, Schumer initially expressed doubts about its viability but eventually supported it to prevent a shutdown.
The fluctuating decisions and mixed messaging from Schumer only intensified the discontent among Democrats towards their leadership. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, who voted against the spending plan, expressed a sense of resignation regarding the situation.
As the resignation permeates Washington, the resolve among Trump critics is waning as his influence on fiscal matters grows. Despite the Democrats’ ability to impede Trump and the GOP, they ultimately conceded due to the Republican majority in Congress and control of the White House. While Republicans fell short of the necessary 60 votes in the Senate, requiring Democratic support, Schumer and others ultimately backed the spending plan to avert a shutdown.
The Democrats faced a dilemma when it came to opposing Trump’s power grab. Despite having the power to shut down the government, they lacked the ability to shift blame or present a unified plan. The focus now turns to how they handle Schumer’s leadership, with some questioning his position as Minority Leader. While Schumer’s decisions are calculated rather than impulsive, the fallout from supporting keeping the government open has strained his standing within the party. Moving forward, Democrats must navigate a landscape where their ability to counter Trump is weakened. The balance of power between the legislative and executive branches remains skewed until Congress takes action. Stay informed about important matters in Washington by signing up for the D.C. Brief newsletter. For inquiries, contact Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com.
