Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is facing growing dissent within the Democratic Party as divisions deepen over how to handle a looming government shutdown. Tensions between moderates and progressives have escalated, with some lawmakers describing the internal friction as an “open mutiny.”Schumer’s proposal for a short-term funding extension to keep the government open for a week was met with backlash from progressives, who saw it as a sign of weakness. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Tex.) criticized the plan publicly, arguing that it only delays needed action on key issues like healthcare and economic support.
The federal government faces a shutdown unless Congress reaches an agreement by 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Central to the standoff are debates over Affordable Care Act subsidies, funding for public health, and reversing cuts to social programs. Schumer and moderates support a temporary deal to avoid disruption, but progressives argue that such compromises allow Republicans to control the narrative.
This isn’t the first time Schumer’s strategy has drawn criticism. Earlier this year, a similar short-term deal angered progressives, fueling speculation about primary challenges and questioning Schumer’s leadership style. Some younger Democrats view him as representing outdated, cautious politics, increasingly at odds with the party’s energized base.
