On the primary day of the 2013 authorities shutdown, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, had a message for Republicans who refused to fund the federal government until Congress defunded Obamacare: Hostage-taking wouldn’t work.
“As we stated a thousand occasions, we’re joyful to debate methods to fund the federal government, however not with a gun to our heads,” Schumer stated on the Senate ground.
“You aren’t going to get us to offer in to extortion,” he continued. “You aren’t going to take, as hostage, thousands and thousands of harmless Individuals and achieve getting us to do one thing you need, and we do not, they usually do not.
That shutdown ended after 16 days and Republicans had little to indicate for it.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer speak to reporters exterior the West Wing of the White Home, Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington.
AP Picture/Alex Brandon
Twelve years later, Schumer and Democrats, now within the minority, are staring down one other authorities shutdown — however one which is perhaps of their very own making.
Within the Senate, Democrats are withholding assist for a measure to maintain the federal government funded at present ranges until Republicans lengthen subsidies that assist some Individuals pay for well being care by way of the Reasonably priced Care Act, that are set to run out at yr’s finish, amongst different calls for.
It is a web page out of the playbook pioneered by the GOP and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and used repeatedly since 2013.
However for the primary time, Democrats are poised to oppose funding the federal government. Schumer and Home Democratic Chief Hakeem Jeffries left a White Home assembly with President Donald Trump and prime GOP leaders with out an settlement on the trail ahead.
“I feel we’re headed to a shutdown as a result of the Democrats gained’t do the appropriate factor,” Vice President JD Vance stated on the White Home driveway after the assembly.
When Congress averted a shutdown in March, Schumer and 9 different Democrats voted with Republicans to increase funding till the top of the fiscal yr.
On the time, he argued {that a} shutdown would empower the Trump administration and the Elon Musk-led Division of Authorities Effectivity to proceed radically reshaping the federal authorities
“Underneath a shutdown, the Trump administration would have wide-ranging authority to deem entire businesses, applications and personnel nonessential, furloughing workers members with no promise they might ever be rehired,” Schumer wrote within the New York Instances, explaining his vote.
Now, the Senate minority chief has reversed himself, however denying that the pivot is because of political stress — as an alternative arguing that the deal lower within the spring hasn’t stopped the Trump administration from pushing out federal staff.
“We’re listening to from the American folks that they need assistance on well being care,” Schumer stated Sunday on “Meet the Press.” “As for these large layoffs, guess what? Easy one sentence reply, they’re doing it anyway.”
Vice President JD Vance talks to reporters exterior the White Home, Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington, as Director of the Workplace of Administration and Price range, Russell Vought, Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Chief John Thune hear.
Alex Brandon/AP
Whereas the American public has sided with Democrats in previous shutdowns, it has been in fights wherein Republicans tried to extract coverage modifications.
After the shutdown over defunding Obamacare in 2013, 53% of respondents to an ABC Information/Washington Publish ballot blamed Republicans for the shutdown, in comparison with 29% who blamed then-President Barack Obama, and 15% who blamed either side equally.
After Trump led Republicans right into a futile shutdown to extract border wall funding from the Democrat-led Home in January 2018, 48% of respondents blamed the president and Republicans for the shutdown, in comparison with 28% who faulted Democrats, in line with an ABC Information/Washington Publish ballot.
With roles reversed, Democrats might be in line to get blamed for a brand new shutdown. And Republicans answerable for each chambers may pressure messaging votes that underscore Democrats’ opposition to funding the federal government and the companies its offers.
However this is probably not a typical funding struggle, given the Trump administration’s threats to make use of the shutdown to fireside much more federal staff, and ongoing efforts to dam spending agreements already accredited by Congress over coverage disputes.
Many Democratic voters have additionally pushed their leaders to tackle the Trump administration extra forcefully, and a shutdown might be a venue for doing so, regardless of the potential impression on authorities companies.
If Congress cannot attain a deal, and the federal government shuts down, it isn’t clear how lengthy an deadlock will final. It is also not clear how lengthy voters will maintain it in opposition to Washington leaders, greater than a yr away from the 2026 midterms.
However all eyes shall be on congressional leaders who now discover themselves in surprising roles.
