Chuck Schumer Reportedly Changes Course On Government Funding Measure As Shutdown Approaches

Multiple outlets report that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told Democrats during a closed-door lunch he will vote to advance the GOP-backed government funding measure.

The bill’s passage would avert a government shutdown.

Just in: Chuck Schumer will vote in favor of moving forward with the GOP spending bill in order to avoid a Government Shutdown

Via: Punchbowl pic.twitter.com/PE5ohjxvAo

— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) March 13, 2025

From POLITICO:

Schumer’s closed-door comments, confirmed by two people granted anonymity to disclose his private remarks, comes amid days of Democratic agonizing about the possible shutdown. Their dilemma was forced by the House’s approval Tuesday of a funding patch through September, one that was written without Democratic input.

Schumer has not publicly reiterated his comments, which were first reported by The New York Times, but he is expected to speak from the Senate floor on Thursday evening. Republicans will need eight Democrats to help them break a 60-vote filibuster of the House GOP bill.

Senate Democrats held another closed-door meeting on Thursday but did not emerge with a unified strategy. A growing number of Senate Democrats have vowed to oppose the House GOP bill, including not helping it get over 60-vote procedural hurdles. But some Democrats have floated that they could help advance the bill in exchange for a vote on their preferred alternative, a 30-day stopgap that would make room to restart bipartisan spending talks.

BREAKING: Sen. Chuck Schumer will reportedly vote in favor of advancing the GOP spending bill to avert a government shutdown.

— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) March 13, 2025

Deirdre Walsh, congressional correspondent for National Public Radio, reported that Schumer said “the CR bill is very bad” but a government shutdown would be “much much worse.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says spending bill presents “Hobson’s choice” – says, “while the CR bill is very bad. The potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much much worse.”
says would give Musk “carte blanche” to do what he wants

— Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrekwalsh) March 13, 2025

“Republicans do not have the votes in the Senate to invoke cloture on the House CR. Our caucus is unified on a clean April 11 CR that will keep the government open and give Congress time to negotiate bipartisan legislation that can pass. We should vote on that,” Schumer previously said.

WATCH:

.@SenSchumer: “Republicans do not have the votes in the Senate to invoke cloture on the House CR. Our caucus is unified on a clean April 11 CR that will keep the government open and give Congress time to negotiate bipartisan legislation that can pass. We should vote on that.” pic.twitter.com/scABJblK8J

— CSPAN (@cspan) March 12, 2025

Newsweek reports:

Thursday on CNN, fellow New York Democrat, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said it would be a “tremendous mistake” for Schumer to vote “yes” on cloture to end debate on the bill, overcoming a filibuster, and moving to a final vote.

Asked later if she thinks Schumer’s a weak Senate leader considering his reported support for cloture, Ocasio-Cortez responded to host Jake Tapper, “I think that that would be a mistake. We have time between now and tomorrow, and I hope that individuals that are considering that reconsider it.”