Democrats Plan To Shut Down Government

After a decade of claiming that it was the worst possible thing that could ever happen, House Democrats are weighing whether to oppose a temporary government funding bill in response to sweeping federal agency cuts championed by former President Donald Trump and implemented by billionaire Elon Musk. While Trump has urged lawmakers to pass a straightforward extension of government funding, Democratic opposition has grown, particularly over reductions to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Party leaders argue that approving the bill would effectively endorse Musk’s controversial cost-cutting measures.

CNN writes:

Top Democrats in the House and Senate are sharply opposed to Speaker Mike Johnson’s strategy for a six-month funding extension, insisting it would give even more leeway to Trump and Elon Musk to slash government programs. They also fear that agreeing to the GOP’s lengthy extension could weaken some of the only leverage they have in a GOP-controlled Congress, and could potentially damage an argument in court cases challenging the White House’s spending actions.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, called the GOP’s plan for a one-year funding extension “a non-starter” and predicted Democrats would be “unified in opposition.”

“You’re in charge. And we’ve tried to negotiate,” DeLauro said, insisting it’s the GOP’s responsibility to fund the government since they control both chambers of Congress. “Elon Musk wants a shutdown. Why? Because then it’s carte blanche — open parks, get rid of EPA, no research. It’s carte blanche. He is for that.”

While some Democrats view this as a necessary act of resistance, the approach carries political risks, writes Politico. If they block the funding measure, they could be blamed for triggering a government shutdown, undermining their broader argument that Musk’s cuts are eroding essential government services. With Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress and the White House, they are likely to paint Democrats as obstructionists unwilling to keep the government running.

As the March 14 deadline approaches, the political standoff is intensifying. House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders have dismissed Democratic demands to curb Musk’s authority, with House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole calling such proposals unrealistic. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are trying to shift the blame, with Appropriations Vice Chair Patty Murray insisting that Musk is the only one actively pushing for a shutdown.

Whether Democrats will follow through on their threat remains uncertain. However, with a liberal obsession for protecting wasteful spending mounting and an increasingly energized leftwing base calling for action to protect their alleged kickbacks, party leaders may feel compelled to stand their ground—even if it means allowing a government shutdown to occur.

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