Democrats Face Shutdown Deadline, Internal Divisions Over Spending Cuts and DOGE Efforts

Democrats Face Shutdown Deadline, Internal Divisions

The Democratic Party in the Senate finally rallied on Thursday, but their show of resistance against a second Trump administration appears to be short-lived. With a government shutdown looming on Friday, Democratic senators initially signaled opposition to the GOP bill that would approve continued federal funding while cutting nondefense spending for the remainder of the 2024 fiscal year.

However, this opposition seems to be more of a political maneuver than a genuine attempt to block the bill. News broke Thursday evening that Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will vote for cloture on the GOP bill, allowing it to avoid a filibuster. While some Democrats, particularly those in swing districts and hardline progressives, may not follow suit, Schumer's decision paves the way for the House Continuing Resolution (CR) to pass on Friday.

This decision has drawn criticism from within the Democratic Party. House members like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and newly-elected Virginia Democrat Eugene Vindman have accused their colleagues of playing political games and failing to truly resist the GOP agenda. They argue that voting for cloture on the Republican plan will ultimately lead to its passage, regardless of any subsequent attempts to pass a Democratic 30-day proposal.

Adding to the pressure, both House and Senate Democrats are facing increasing demands from their constituents to take a stronger stance against Elon Musk's DOGE efforts, which aim to significantly reduce federal spending. Meanwhile, Republicans are facing their own challenges, needing to explain how they plan to cut trillions from the budget without impacting programs like Medicaid and Social Security.

The House bill, passed on Tuesday, includes minimal cuts to nondefense spending and fails to restrict federal agencies from reappropriating funds. Senate Democrats, on the other hand, are supporting a 30-day clean CR that would allow for negotiations on a longer omnibus spending bill. However, Democrats fear that the effects of DOGE will be even greater during a shutdown, as the Executive Branch has the discretion to deem agency staff "nonessential."

Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman, often criticized by his party's progressive wing, also criticized his fellow senators for their political maneuvering and stated that he would vote to break the filibuster on the GOP bill. He argued that weeks of performative resistance have amounted to nothing and that shutting down the government would only punish millions of Americans or risk a recession.

With the shutdown deadline looming, the Democratic Party finds itself in a difficult position. Facing pressure from both their base and the GOP, they must decide whether to continue their symbolic resistance or accept the Republican spending cuts. This decision will have significant implications for the American economy and the political landscape in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.