Anger has erupted inside the Democratic Party after eight senators joined Republicans to support a deal ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The move has sparked outrage among progressives, who are now turning on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, blaming him for failing to hold his caucus together.
The shutdown lasted more than forty days as Democrats refused to reopen the government without securing an extension of tax credits that lower health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Republicans rejected that demand, insisting the government be reopened first.
On Sunday, a bipartisan compromise emerged, allowing funding through January and promising Democrats a future vote on extending ACA credits. There is no guarantee that such a bill will pass. The deal was crafted by eight moderate Democrats working with Republicans, giving them the votes needed to move the plan forward.
Although Schumer did not support or vote for the measure, many within his party accused him of poor leadership. They claim he either failed to maintain party unity or secretly backed the deal to save face. Progressive activists argue that weeks of fighting for healthcare protections ended in a surrender.
Growing Calls for Schumer to Step Down
Criticism of Schumer intensified as progressive organizations and lawmakers demanded his resignation. Rick Wilson, co-founder of the Lincoln Project, called it a “colossal leadership failure”. Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution, said Schumer should step down immediately, arguing that he had either lied or shown himself incapable of leading.
In the House, several Democrats joined the call for new leadership. Mike Levin, who represents a coastal California district, said Senate Democrats should “move on” from Schumer’s leadership. Ro Khanna, also from California, said Schumer was no longer effective, while Rashida Tlaib of Michigan stated he was out of touch with working people.
Despite the backlash, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries defended Schumer, telling reporters he believed Schumer was effective and should remain in his post. No Democratic senators—the only ones who can remove him—have called for him to step aside.
A spokesman for Schumer declined to comment. However, some Democrats are urging restraint. Suzan DelBene, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), reminded members to focus their criticism on Republicans, noting that the party’s goal is to challenge GOP control in upcoming races.
A Familiar Party Rift
The turmoil recalls a previous funding battle earlier this year when Schumer faced a similar revolt after agreeing to a short-term funding bill backed by Republicans. At the time, liberal groups like Indivisible and MoveOn called for new leadership.
Kamala Harris rallies Democrats during shutdown — ‘we won’t trade healthcare for tax breaks’
When this latest shutdown began, Schumer’s office worked closely with those same groups to coordinate a united strategy. For weeks, Democrats blocked every Republican attempt to reopen the government without addressing the ACA subsidies. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune held fourteen failed votes, while House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed any healthcare negotiations and accused Schumer of acting out of fear of a potential challenge from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC).
After the compromise was announced, Schumer said he could not in good faith support a resolution that failed to address the healthcare crisis affecting millions of Americans. He voted against the procedural measure on Sunday night.
Still, progressive groups were unsatisfied. Organizations like Indivisible called the outcome a direct result of Schumer’s leadership, claiming that even with his “no” vote, he either allowed or failed to prevent the defection of the eight Democrats. They have encouraged supporters to contact their senators and demand a new leader.
Inside the party, campaign officials warn that such internal divisions could weaken Democrats heading into key elections. But despite calls for unity, frustration continues to mount, with many activists insisting the party’s leadership has failed to meet the moment.
