Republicans will need Democrats’ help to pass funding bill by 14 March as hard-right lawmakers push to cut costs

Summary

With a government shutdown looming, Democrats are debating whether to use it as leverage against Trump’s sweeping federal cuts.

Some argue withholding support for a funding bill could challenge Trump’s radical restructuring, including mass firings and agency shutdowns.

The GOP-controlled Congress must secure Democratic votes to pass a funding bill, but hard-right demands complicate negotiations.

Concerns grow that Trump may exploit a shutdown to sideline federal agencies, raising fears that this could be the most disruptive shutdown yet.

  • Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    0·
    9 days ago

    This is a lose/lose for Democrats. If they cooperate, it’s awful messaging to their base. If they create a shutdown, now all the pain being felt is THEIR FAULT. Not to mention, it just plays into the “We didn’t need these Federal workers” talking point.

    They should have acted earlier. No planning, just reacting. Terrible, no skills politics.

    • DomeGuy@lemmy.world
      1·
      9 days ago

      The Democrats are a minority in both chambers of Congress. The Republicans should be able to pass a simple spending plan on a party line vote, and if they can’t then their dysfunction is not and should never be treated as the Democrats’ fault

    • ryathal@sh.itjust.works
      1·
      9 days ago

      There’s a win if the Democrats really want one. Shutting down the government stops Doge, and cuts more than musk could ever dream of. They can frame it as Republicans trying to spend money and Democrats being about responsibility. Make it about a failure of Trump’s leadership.

      It’s a tough line to walk, because a prolonged shutdown would possibly backfire, but it’s probably worth the risk. Shutdowns do tend to hurt the party in power more than the opposition.

      This is a way to slam the brakes on Trump and be an opposition party if they have the spine for it.