The Senate Democrats are wary of blocking a bill on the financing of the six -month government, fearing that a government closure will turn politically on them by giving Elon Musk and the Trump administration more leverage to force federal workers.
Democratic senators spoke the proposal of the GOP Chamber Unveiled during the weekendarguing that he would erode the power of the convention’s handbag and give President Trump and Musk a white check to redirect government funding and eliminate longtime programs.
But the Democratic leader of the Senate, Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.), failed to declare the bill of the Chamber upon arrival in the Senate, reflecting democratic scruples on the fact of killing the measure if it manages to pass the lower room later this week.
In previous confrontations, the Democrats were convinced that the government’s closure policy has played their advantage, because the media often examined the Republicans during the spending touches – or the Democrats were able to blame conservative agitators for closings.
Now, there is an increasing fear among the Democrats that Trump could feel politically entangled to let a closure extend for several weeks, and that, in turn, could give Musk more leverage to push federal workers to retire, because many could feel financial pressures to seek work in the private sector if they have to endure weeks without payroll.
Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) Said that there was an increasing uncertainty over the duration of the federal departments and agencies that would remain closed if the congress does not reach a spending bill by the deadline on Friday.
Kelly warned Trump or Musk on Monday could stop the government as painful as possible to federal workers.
The Senator of Arizona said he was concerned about “Musk, who is already closing certain parts of the government”.
“Who knows what he will want to open?” He predicted.
“It’s a huge risk,” he warned. “Maybe they decide that the entire government agency no longer needs to exist.”
Schumer, unusually, did not talk about the floor of the Senate when the room opened its doors on Monday, holding its cards near the vest until it had the chance to consult its management team.
“We are going to talk about it in a few minutes,” said Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT.) Said journalists when he entered Schumer’s office when he was asked how he would do the government’s financing legislation.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MASS.), Another member of the Schumer management team, said that Democrats will try to press the Republicans to accept a short-term funding stopgap. This would give Democrats another chance to negotiate a Bipartisan expenditure bill which would avoid reductions in non-defense programs.
“We need a short -term CR. Republicans are already closing the government. We need a short-term CR so that we can withdraw our funding, “she said, referring to a continuous resolution.
If the congress does not reach all the draft law of regular credit before April 30, under the law on tax liability promulgated in 2023, government programs would be confronted with a drop of 1%.
The head of the majority in the Senate, John Thune (Rs.d.), warned on Monday, however, that the Senate Democrats will hold the results of a government closure if they are later voting this week to block any Stopgap finance proposal adopted by the Chamber.
“We will have the opportunity to act here. It will be up to the Democrats to know if they want to deliver the votes and prevent the government from closing. I hope they will do this, “he said.
Thune would need at least eight Democrats in the Senate to vote so that the stopgap reaches the threshold of 60 votes required to overcome a filibusier.
The Senate Republicans control 53 seats, but Senator Rand Paul (R-KY.) Said he would vote against continuous resolution.
Democratic senators hope that the resolution continues unveiled this weekend, which would finance the government until September, would fail in the House.
This would give Schumer a lever to negotiate a short-term financing measure which more fairly deals with defense and non-defense programs. The bill written by the GOP would increase the defense expenses by $ 6 billion and reduces 13 billion non-defense programs.
Democrats warn that he would also give Trump an almost undoubted authority to move funding within The bill Because it lacks detailed instructions on how to allocate money, something that was traditionally attached to past continuous resolutions.
The Democrats of the Senate publicly express doubts about the capacity of the president of the Mike Johnson Chamber (R-La) to adopt a bill of spending by relying almost entirely on the votes of his GOP conference, predicting that the Democrats of the Chamber will remain unified in opposition to the republican proposal of the Chamber.
“No one never knows what the house is going to do, so we have to wait for the house to take action. My preference is a short term (continuous resolution) so that we can finish our work, and I always think it is the most adult way, “said Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaiii).
The House bill, however, seems to have a great momentum after Trump greatly approved it SATURDAY.
Representative Chip Roy (R-TEXAS), a frank tax curator who generally votes against financing bills, stressed on Sunday what he considered the advantages of the adoption of the financing proposal awaiting six months.
“Why the 6 months’ expenses Grement” CR? ” 1) Keep the lights on for @elongmusk & Doge, 2) The demons want the stop to stop Elon, 3) no brands … No big omnibus 4) 72 hours to read, 50 white house installation to get in hand and identify waste 6) have set up cuts in FY26, and 7, to thaw
He should vote for the bill.
Representative Thomas Massie, a fervent fiscal conservative in Kentucky, is the only republican in the Chamber to declare that he will vote against the continuous resolution of six months.
Johnson cannot afford another republican defection, assuming that all Democrats vote against the bill, because the Chamber is divided 218-214.
Warren said that the Democrats in the House should vote in unison against the proposal, but it could be a difficult vote for the 13 Democrats representing the districts that Trump won in the 2024 elections.
“I understand that the Democrats of the Chamber have clearly indicated that they do not support this,” she said. “Republicans do not yet seem to have a bill they can adopt.”
At least one democrat, representative Henry Cuellar (Texas), did not close the door to the vote for the stopgap written by the GOP.
“I do not support government closings,” he said in an email at the hill. “As an appropriate, it has always been my priority to make sure that the dollars of American taxpayers are used efficiently and effectively. I also focus on protecting our vital services.
Trump, in an article on Truth Social, urged the Republicans of the Chamber to merge behind the measure and urged the rebel conservatives to stay online.
“The Chamber and the Senate have set up, in the circumstances, a very good financing bill (” CR “)! All Republicans should vote (please!) Yes next week, “Trump posted.
“We have to remain united – no dissent – fight for another day when the time has come. Very important, ”he warned.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material cannot be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.