Democrats Say the Quiet Part Out Loud: This Shutdown is Coming Because They’re Afraid of Their Own Base

WASHINGTON - House Republicans have passed a clean, nonpartisan continuing resolution to responsibly keep the government open through November 21, giving appropriators time to complete the full-year appropriations process through regular order. President Trump and Republicans in Congress stand united in support of this straightforward, responsible solution.

Democrats Demanded Schumer Step Down Following March CR Vote

• Ezra Levin, Co-Executive Director of Indivisible: "Schumer did the opposite. He led the charge to wave the white flag of surrender… Accordingly, Indivisible is calling for Chuck Schumer to step down from Senate Democratic leadership."
• Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas): "I think Senate Democrats have to sit down and take a look and decide whether or not Chuck Schumer is the one to lead in this moment… So I definitely think that younger, fresher leadership may be something that many of us, not just depending on what part of the spectrum you're on, but many Americans may be looking for, especially in the state of New York."
• Rep. Alxandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.): "… and so to me, it is almost unthinkable why Senate Democrats would vote to hand the few pieces of leverage that we have away for free."
• Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.): "I respect Chuck Schumer. I think he had a great, long-standing career. But I'm afraid that it may be time for the Senate Democrats to get a new leader."

Meanwhile, Democrats are Admitting - On and Off the Record - Their Shutdown Strategy is About Politics

Democrats are openly conceding that the shutdown fight isn't about doing what's best for the country. It's about proving to their base they will "fight Trump" - even if it means closing the government and jeopardizing the critical services millions of American families rely on.

• "I think people understand there would be hell to pay if we don't put up a fight, but I also think this is a place where most members and the base authentically align," (Axios, 09/26/25)
• "Obviously the base of the party wants to see that we're not going along," (Axios, 09/26/25)
• "I think it's pretty safe to say that if Schumer folded and got nothing in return before [Oct. 1], he might as well just go to the UPS store and grab a U-Haul and clean out his office." (Axios, 09/26/25)
• Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Virg.): "The base would be incensed if [Democrats] were seen as capitulating again." (Axios, 09/26/25)
• "Democratic Senators increasingly see shutting down the government to send a message to President Trump as a political necessity," (The Hill, 09/17/25)

Democrats Taking Their Cues from Outside Groups

Instead of voting for a continuing resolution to keep the government open and operating - as they did 13 times under President Biden - Democrats are working hand-in-hand with left-wing groups demanding confrontation at the expense of the American people.

• Indivisible, a left-wing activist group that received millions of dollars from the Soros family's organization, is spearheading a pressure campaign to push Democratic senators to force a partial shutdown. (Daily Caller, 09/26/25)
• Andrew O'Neill, Indivisible's National Advocacy Director: "Trading away leverage in exchange for a pinky promise isn't a real strategy... Democrats should know better than to negotiate against themselves like this, and scrap this idea immediately."
• One senior leader from a top grassroots organization told us they have been leveraging the upcoming nationwide 'No Kings' protest next month in conversations with Democrats. "You can either be a part of this movement or be irrelevant to it,' the source said." (Axios, 09/26/25)
• "Backing down and helping fund the government, like Democrats did in March, is unacceptable, the groups have told their team." (Axios, 09/26/25)

Democrats Have Been Planning a Shutdown for Months

This is not a last-minute standoff. Democrats have been preparing to weaponize a shutdown since March when Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer responsibly helped avert a government shutdown, a move criticized by many on the left.

• Politico reported that as early as July, Democrats were "wrestling with shutdown strategy" and openly discussing how to use the September 30 deadline to score political points. (Politico, 07/21/25)

The Bottom Line

Polling shows over 60% of Americans have an unfavorable view of the Democrat Party - the lowest in 35 years. Their playbook has failed time and again.

Republicans are united on our clean, nonpartisan plan to keep the government open. Democrats are barreling toward a shutdown, not because it helps the American people, but because it helps their politics.