House Democrats push to sink GOP spending bill but Senate Dems act coy

Hakeem Jeffries and House Democrats are ready to seize on the first big leverage point of President Donald Trump’s second term, lining up against a bill to avert a government shutdown this week.

Hakeem Jeffries and House Democrats are ready to seize on the first big leverage point of President Donald Trump’s second term, lining up against a bill to avert a government shutdown this week. But the party’s position is far murkier in the Senate, showcasing stark divisions within the party over how far Democrats are willing to go against Trump. While House Democrats are preparing to vote in lockstep and force Republican Speaker Mike Johnson to put up the votes on his own, they’ve watched with frustration as Senate Democrats have been much more cautious in their deliberations. And if the House successfully passes its on Tuesday, Senate Democrats are saying little about how they’ll handle a take-it-or-leave-it option that could lead to a paralyzing — and politically toxic — shutdown. “It would be a capitulation to the Trump style of democracy, which is the movement of democracy to dictatorship,” said Rep. Hank Johnson, a typically mild-mannered Democrat from Georgia, when asked what happened if Senate Democrats allowed the spending bill to become law. Even with Trump and the GOP in charge of Washington, some Senate Democrats privately worry they could be blamed for a funding lapse. But others believe they risk backlash from their base if Democrats are seen as folding in the fight without a single concession from Trump. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer briefed his leadership team on Monday evening, during which New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said Schumer did not outline an official position but briefed senators on “the outrageous things” in the House GOP bill. Schumer has made clear in recent days that he will keep his powder dry until the House vote, with Republicans there still struggling to lock down support.