NEW YORK (AP) – Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other House Democrats were furious Friday after Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer abruptly switched course and said he'd clear the way for a Republican-led government funding bill rather than risk a government shutdown.
Ocasio-Cortez, the New York Democrat often mentioned as a possible challenger to Schumer, said many House Democrats stood up to vote against the package only to “see some Senate Democrats even consider acquiescing to Elon Musk.”
The congresswoman expressed frustration that Democratic senators aren’t aligning with the members “who have won Trump-held districts in some of the most difficult territories in the United States, who walked the plank and took innumerable risks in order to defend the American people.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, of New York, reiterated that House Democrats would not be “complicit” in the GOP spending plan, while Rep. Melanie Stansbury, of New Mexico, said, “The American people are shouting: Please do not hand the keys over to Elon Musk.”
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, House speaker emerita, also criticized Schumer's plan and said Trump and Musk were offering a "false choice" between the bill and a shutdown. “Let’s be clear: neither is a good option for the American people,” Pelosi said in a statement. “But this false choice that some are buying instead of fighting is unacceptable.”
Schumer, who has been a fierce critic of President Donald Trump, said as bad as the GOP bill is, the president would seize more power during a shutdown because it would give the administration the ability to deem whole agencies, programs and personnel non-essential, furloughing staff with no promise they would ever be rehired.
“A shutdown would allow DOGE to shift into overdrive,” Schumer warned as the Senate opened Friday. He said Democrats aren’t backing down and vowed a long-term fight against the Trump agenda.
Democrats have been critical of the funding levels in the bill. But they are more worried about the discretion the bill gives the Trump administration on spending decisions. Many Democrats are referring to the measure as a “blank check” for Trump.
For example, a Democratic memo said the bill would allow the administration to steer money away from combating fentanyl and instead use it on mass deportation initiatives.
Schumer picked up one unexpected nod of support — from Trump himself, who just a day earlier was gearing up to blame Democrats for any shutdown.
“Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing — Took “guts” and courage!” the president posted on his social media account early Friday.
1010 WINS contributed to this report.