The last funding fight has seemed to color the Democrats’ approach this time around. In March, Democrats pledged to push back on a GOP funding plan, but Schumer changed course at the eleventh hour, delivering one of the Democratic votes necessary to propel the measure to passage and prevent a shutdown.
At the time, Schumer argued that a shutdown risked doing more damage to the federal government, despite intense criticism from some within his own party. Since then, he’s faced heated opposition from Democrats, including calls for new leadership, and plummeting poll numbers. Now, faced with the latest funding fight, he’s changed his tune.
When asked whether the key difference between the last spending fight and this one is the pressure from the Democratic base to stand up to Mr. Trump, the minority leader told NBC on Sunday “absolutely not.”
“We’re hearing from the American people that they need help on health care,” he said.
Since March, Republicans in Congress passed the signature legislation of Mr. Trump’s second term, which included restrictions to Medicaid that Democrats disavowed. And the GOP also approved a rescissions package that clawed back congressionally approved funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting, which Democrats say has increased distrust that funding agreements will be honored.
But in March, Schumer also argued that a shutdown would have given wide latitude to the executive branch and the Department of Government Efficiency to make deeper cuts to the federal workforce, and he noted that there wouldn’t be an offramp to reopen the government.
Schumer addressed the change of tune Sunday: “As for these massive layoffs, guess what — they’re doing it anyway.”
“The heat is on them when they do this,” Schumer added. “And the American people won’t like it at all.”
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