Democrats and progressive leaders erupted in anger Sunday night after the Senate moved closer to reopening the government, blasting Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for failing to hold his caucus together.
The backlash came after five Democrats broke ranks to support a bipartisan deal ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history — without securing Republican concessions on extending Obamacare subsidies set to expire later this year. Though Schumer himself voted against the package, critics accused him of weak leadership.
“Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) posted on X, while Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) added that the vote showed “why we need new leadership.” Both lawmakers urged Democrats to oppose Schumer’s continued role as party leader after the 2026 elections.
Several Democratic Senate candidates also joined the chorus of frustration. Graham Platner, who’s running against Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), said Schumer “is not built for this moment,” and Iowa’s Zach Wahls said he had “failed us.”
The five Democrats who voted to advance the deal — Dick Durbin (Ill.), Tim Kaine (Va.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), and Jacky Rosen (Nev.) — helped move forward an agreement largely written by Republicans weeks earlier. In a dramatic twist, Shaheen’s daughter, Stefany, who is running for Congress in New Hampshire, publicly opposed the same deal, saying it “fails to protect healthcare access” and calling for an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits.
Under the agreement, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) promised Democrats a vote on extending Obamacare subsidies but gave no guarantee of success, while House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has yet to commit to taking it up. The plan also restores federal jobs lost during the shutdown and includes back pay for government employees.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani condemned the deal, warning it would drive up healthcare premiums and worsen the affordability crisis. “Ending the shutdown shouldn’t come at the expense of health care for tens of millions of Americans,” Hochul said.
The bipartisan funding bill, which extends government operations through January 30, 2026 — and fully funds programs for veterans, the military, and the Department of Agriculture through September 2026 — is expected to clear the Senate Monday before heading to the House, and ultimately, President Trump’s desk.