Schumer, Jeffries Call for Bipartisanship to Avoid Government Shutdown

Democratic leaders in the Senate and House are urging bipartisan cooperation to prevent a government shutdown as funding is set to expire at the end of September.

“The only way to avoid a shutdown is to work in a bipartisan way, with a bill that can get both Republican and Democratic votes in the Senate,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote in a Sept. 2 letter to colleagues. He accused Republicans of wanting to “go-at-it-alone.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) also warned of a shutdown if Republicans refuse to work with Democrats. “House Democrats are very clear: We’re not down with that,” he said. “And so if what we see next month is simply a continuation of that reckless right-wing Republican approach, we won’t be down with it next month either.”

The National Republican Congressional Committee pushed back, saying Jeffries was the one threatening chaos. “Democrat ‘Leader’ Hakeem Jeffries admitted his radical party is plotting another government shutdown because they’d rather play politics than govern,” spokesperson Mike Marinella said. “While Republicans are focused on keeping the government open and working for the American people, Democrats are threatening chaos to protect their extremist agenda.”

Schumer also criticized the Trump administration for attempting to undo approved government funding through a “pocket rescission.” “With the Trump Administration’s attempt of the so-called ‘pocket rescission,’ it is clear that Republicans are prioritizing chaos over governing, partisanship over partnership, and their own power over the American people,” he wrote.

A rescission is when the White House asks Congress to reverse previously approved funding, but under law, Congress must approve it within 45 days or the funds must be spent. The Trump administration recently sought to rescind $4.9 billion in foreign aid. “Last night, President Trump cancelled $4.9 billion in America Last foreign aid using a pocket rescission,” the Office of Management and Budget posted on Aug. 29.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) denounced the move as an effort to bypass Congress. “Republicans should not accept Russ Vought’s brazen attempt to usurp their own power,” she said, referring to the OMB director. “No president has a line item veto—and certainly not a retroactive line item veto. Congress should reject this request and this ridiculous, illegal maneuver—and instead insist on making decisions over spending through the bipartisan appropriations process.”

Schumer said Democrats remain ready to negotiate across the aisle. “Senate Democrats have shown firsthand that we are willing to work in a bipartisan way to keep our government open by advancing bipartisan appropriations bills,” he wrote. But he warned Republicans face a choice: “Senate Republicans must decide: stand up for the legislative branch or enable Trump’s slide toward authoritarianism.”

He added that he and Jeffries are united. “We are aligned on our shared priorities for September: where Republicans obstruct, we press forward; where they sow division, we answer with unity; where they threaten shutdown, we hold them accountable.”