He coined a new term.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has pointed fingers at former President Trump and the Republicans for a possible partial government shutdown after the House failed to approve a stopgap spending bill on Wednesday. In a procedural move on Thursday, Schumer filed for cloture to expedite Senate action once the House passes a continuing resolution (CR), which is a temporary measure intended to maintain current spending levels.
“By filing today, I am providing the Senate with maximum flexibility to prevent a shutdown,” Schumer stated during his address on the Senate floor. His early filing allows for a quicker vote on the forthcoming CR. He criticized the idea of a shutdown, labeling it a “Trump shutdown,” and noted that both Democrats and many Republicans likely do not support the notion of a shutdown driven by Trump’s agenda. “The American people shouldn’t have to suffer due to Donald Trump’s misunderstanding of how the legislative process works,” he added.
Schumer’s decision to file the legislative vehicle followed the House’s failure to pass a Republican-backed CR presented by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., which was defeated by a vote of 202 to 220. Notably, two Democrats voted “present,” and nine Republicans opposed the six-month spending bill, which included a controversial requirement for proof of citizenship to vote. It is crucial for lawmakers to pass a CR before the start of October to avert a partial government shutdown.
While Republicans have insisted on including the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act in any spending bill, Schumer and the Democrats have firmly rejected any package containing what they term a “poison pill.” Trump has weighed in on the debate, stating on Truth Social that Republicans should not agree to any continuing resolution unless it includes the SAVE Act in its entirety.
In his remarks, Schumer questioned Trump’s understanding of legislative processes, saying, “How can anyone expect Donald Trump to lead when he shows such little comprehension of how Congress functions? He’s essentially challenging Congress to shut down.” He urged his Republican colleagues not to follow Trump blindly.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., responded to Trump’s comments by cautioning that a government shutdown is not politically advantageous, especially with elections on the horizon. Throughout his speech, Schumer referred to the looming partial government shutdown as a “Trump shutdown,” signaling that Democrats plan to assign blame to Trump and the Republicans should a shutdown occur. Many Republicans privately fear that any shutdown would reflect negatively on their party more than on the Democrats.
