Breaking: Schumer Caves on Shutdown, Will Vote to Keep Government Open

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced in a Senate floor speech Thursday evening that he would not filibuster and will vote for cloture on the Republican continuing resolution to keep the federal government open and funded through the end of the current fiscal year, September 30, giving President Donald Trump a key early victory.

Schumer said “While the CR bill is very bad…allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option.” Schumer also said a shutdown would be like giving Trump, DOGE chief Elon Musk and OMB Director Russ Vought, “The keys to the city, state and country.”

Until tonight, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman was the only Democrat who had said he would vote for the Republican CR and/or cloture, according to a running tally kept by CNN reporter Haley Talbot.

Updates on updates pic.twitter.com/oUJxd9lyT6

— haleytalbotcnn (@haleytalbotcnn) March 13, 2025

Fetterman had posted on Tuesday after the Republican controlled House passed a CR on a largely party-line vote of 217-213, “The weeks of performative “resistance” from those in my party were limited to undignified antics. Voting to shut the government down will punish millions or risk a recession. I disagree with many points in the CR, but I will never vote to shut our government down.”

The weeks of performative “resistance” from those in my party were limited to undignified antics.

Voting to shut the government down will punish millions or risk a recession.

I disagree with many points in the CR, but I will never vote to shut our government down. pic.twitter.com/yhrnmwHUB5

— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) March 11, 2025

The House bill needed to garner 60 initial votes in the GOP led Senate–but with only a 53-47 majority and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) opposed to the CR–Republicans need the help of eight Democrats to invoke cloture to shut off debate so that the CR could then be passed by a simple majority vote. Schumer’s move tonight clears the way for enough Democrats to follow suit to allow the bill to pass.

Key excerpts posted to X by the Washington Post’s J.M. Rieger: “”While the CR bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse. … I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option.”…”I believe it is my job to make the best choice for the country to minimize the harms to the American people. Therefore, I will vote to keep the government open and not shut it down.”

SCHUMER: “I believe it is my job to make the best choice for the country to minimize the harms to the American people. Therefore, I will vote to keep the government open and not shut it down.” pic.twitter.com/mHFqYZncRw

— JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) March 13, 2025

Full speech:

Tension is high among the Democrats. Sen Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) could be heard screaming in a closed door meeting on the CR Thursday afternoon.

GILLIBRAND is screaming so loud we can all hear it through the thick wood doors

— Aishah Hasnie (@aishahhasnie) March 13, 2025

I just heard Gillibrand say “This will not be a normal shutdown”

— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) March 13, 2025

Sen. Ben Ray Luhan (D-NM) snapped at reporters after the meeting:

Gillibrand was asked when leaving if she’s concerned Dems will get blamed if there’s a government shutdown.

A furious Ben Ray Lujan jumped in.

“Republicans are in charge! What are you guys all asking these questions for?”

He eventually left and said, “Jiminy Christmas.” https://t.co/34ijBCJqb3

— Ryan Schmelz (@RyanSchmelzFOX) March 13, 2025

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