Mar. 19, 2025, 8:20 pm ET
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faced escalating calls for his resignation from House Democrats and progressive activists this week after his decision to support a Republican budget proposal to prevent a government shutdown.
Schumer and the House Democrats clashed in town hall meetings following Schumer’s controversial vote on March 15, 2025. Scholars who study the Senate and the politics of government shutdowns expressed concern that the party in power in the Senate may not be effectively representing the will of the people.
The budget proposal backed by Schumer would significantly cut funding for Medicaid, affecting over 70 million Americans. Progressive groups, including Indivisible and the Sunrise Movement, have criticized Schumer for allowing leverage that could have been used to keep key provisions of the budget like Medicaid cuts from passing.
The decision by Chuck Schumer to support the Republican spending package narrowly averted a government shutdown by just two days. In a statement, he described the spending resolution as a “terrible, terrible bill,” but argued that a shutdown would have further empowered Mr. Trump and Mr Musk by leading to cuts in public services.
Schumer’s defense has done little to quiet demands to step down. Members of the House Democratic leadership, including Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) and Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD), have publicly called for Schumer to resign and immediatey step down from his leadership position. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries along with other House members have been vocal as well. Progressives in the party have seized on Schumer’s decision to amp up a push for him to step down.
The internal party division over Schumer’s decision reveals a growing rift within the Democratic Party. Many Democrats, noted former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, favor Schumer’s move to avoid a shutdown that would financially harm millions but, definition of that harm and the roots of future problems diverge widely between parties. Even more within each individual party along self defined ideological lines.
Progressive groups amplify calls to step down
The Sunrise Movement declined to offer interviews, but posted on social media calling for Schumer’s resignation amid accusations of surrendering leverage to Mr. Trump and Mr Musk by supporting the Republican spending package.
In a press release, Indivisible’s executive director, Waleed Shahid, referred to the Democratic party as “schizophrenic” and stated that it does not have “a consistent strategy” for resisting the Trump administration. They accused Senator Schumer of not knowing how to wield power, stating that he instead “favored surrender.”
House Democrats initially dodged questions regarding what next steps were in order to make change within the party as well as strategic questions about how to not give way to gains by the GOP.
The impact of Medicaid cuts
Medicaid provides health insurance for more than 70 million Americans, covering nearly 40% of all births in the country. According to health care professionals, cuts to the program could lead to increased welfare spending and elevated pressure on other public health services.
Narain Chowdhury, director of sustainability at Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, expressed concern that poorer Americans will bear the brunt of the Medicaid cuts, leading to social issues such as increased crime rates and poverty.
More points could be shown to emphasize these consequences and problems with cuts in these public programs.
Chowdhury adds, “There’s no point in creating more program inefficiencies and major budget cuts will further diminish the quality of U.S. healthcare. It’s important for the people to hold both elected officials accountable and ask that they consider the long-term implications prior to submitting their vote. If they choose their leadership position over the welfare of their constituents, then the people have the right to ask that their leadership step down, and Schumer saw the impacts before voting ‘yes.’”
Schumer who? Other Democratic Senators speak out
A strong leadership and unity within the Senate is required to best serve the interests of the people and strengthen the Democratic Party.
The only thing I feel he’s showed with his decision, is his dependence on the politics of fear for his survival.
House Democrats understand that, at this time, we need to find an individual who has a proven track record within the Senate to fill this leadership position. We are ready and able to assist in the search
Although it’s rare for those in senior positions to cruise to victory, some told me that Schumer’s poor standing inside both parties might not be indicative of how elections out West are going to shape up.That is, some of us are simply more in touch with their constituents.
House Way and Means Chair Birthright McCullough (D-OR) said, “President Spenser has given the Senate a great opportunity to serve the people by vetoing the budget. I’m urged by Schumer’s support of the budget and the Democrats need to take advantage of this and elect a new leader who is the best candidate to lead the team and fight for the people, thereby restoring their trust in our leadership and ourselves,”
”Regular folks noticed Shumer’s choice was good for Democrat Senators in red states, and that the Markets liked it,” Jean Pirenot, a financial consultant for the state of Virginia, said. “Lots of people have been agitating since Schumer did what he did and the political and economic experts have been pretty quiet on it since it’s become clear how bad it really is. Nobody remembers when you avoid weird shit like vote closings or government shutdown this”).
