Usually Democrats put up more of a fight. But now they’ve given up.
And Chuck Schumer admitted defeat to Donald Trump in a shock announcement.
As the clock ticks toward a looming government shutdown, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) kept his cards close to the chest Sunday, refusing to dismiss the possibility of supporting a “clean” funding bill to keep federal operations running. With just over a week until the September 30 deadline, tensions are high as Democrats and Republicans remain at odds over how to fund the government past October 1.
Schumer Dodges on “Clean” Bill, Signals Openness to Avoid Shutdown
Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union, Schumer sidestepped questions about whether he’d back a Republican-proposed “clean” stopgap bill—one free of additional policy riders—if time runs out to avoid a partial government shutdown.
“Look, we hope it doesn’t come to that,” Schumer told host Dana Bash, emphasizing public support for Democratic priorities. “The American people are on our side by almost 2 to 1.”
When pressed for a clearer answer, Schumer remained evasive, saying, “We are hoping that [Trump] will negotiate with us, and so far he hasn’t.” Bash interpreted his noncommittal stance as leaning toward accepting a clean bill, but Schumer neither confirmed nor denied this, instead stressing, “The bottom line is we must get a better bill than what they had the last time.”
The comments come after Senate Democrats, alongside most of their House counterparts, rejected a GOP-backed “clean” continuing resolution (CR) on Friday. That measure, which would have extended funding through November 21, failed to gain traction.
Democrats countered with their own proposal, tying government funding to health care protections and limits on President Trump’s ability to freeze funds. That bill also fell short in the Senate, where Republicans hold a majority but need Democratic votes to clear the 60-vote filibuster threshold.
Democrats Push for Health Care, Policy Wins in Funding Fight
Schumer, alongside House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), has made clear that Democrats are digging in for concessions.
Their demands include preserving enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of 2025, undoing Medicaid changes in the GOP’s Working Families Tax Cut Act (previously dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act), and restoring funding for public health research.
Both leaders have sought a sit-down with President Trump to hash out a deal. While Trump has pushed Republicans to rally behind a clean CR, he signaled Sunday he’s open to meeting with Schumer and Jeffries, though no talks have been scheduled.
“I’d love to meet with them, but I don’t think it’s going to have any impact,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
The standoff echoes a March episode when Schumer faced backlash from progressive Democrats for not blocking a GOP-led CR to avoid a shutdown. Activists even called for a primary challenge against him in 2028. On Sunday, Schumer brushed off comparisons, insisting, “The situation is a lot different now than it was then. This is a demand from the American people across the board.”
Shutdown Clock Ticks as Congress Faces September 30 Deadline
With the new fiscal year beginning October 1, Congress has until 11:59 p.m. on September 30 to pass a funding measure or risk a partial government shutdown. The House, led by Republicans, passed its clean CR on Friday, but it lacked the Democratic support needed to advance in the Senate. The failure of both parties’ proposals has left lawmakers scrambling to find common ground.
As negotiations falter, the prospect of a shutdown looms large, with federal agencies preparing for potential disruptions. For now, Schumer’s refusal to rule out a clean bill keeps hope alive for a last-minute compromise—but with both sides entrenched, the path forward remains uncertain.
