Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., listens during a news conference after a policy luncheon at the Capitol, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)2025-09-12T10:33:59Z WASHINGTON (AP) Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer weathered backlash from Democrats earlier this year when he voted with Republicans to keep the government open. But hes now willing to risk a shutdown at the end of the month if Republicans dont accede to Democratic demands. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, left, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, both of New York, tell reporters that they are united as the Sept. 30 funding deadline approaches, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, left, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, both of New York, tell reporters that they are united as the Sept. 30 funding deadline approaches, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Schumer says he and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries are united in opposing any legislation that doesnt include key health care provisions and a commitment not to roll them back. He argues that the country is in a different place than it was in March, when he vigorously argued against a shutdown, and he says he believes Republicans and President Donald Trump will be held responsible if they dont negotiate a bipartisan deal. Things have changed since the March vote, Schumer said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday. He said Republicans have since passed Trumps massive tax breaks and spending cuts legislation, which trimmed Medicaid and other government programs, and Democrats are now unified unlike in March, when he voted with Republicans and Jeffries voted against legislation to fund the government. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., holds an impromptu news conference with reporters just outside the chamber to say he has filed an amendment on the Senate floor to require the attorney general to release the Jeffrey Epstein files and Republicans will have to vote on it, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., holds an impromptu news conference with reporters just outside the chamber to say he has filed an amendment on the Senate floor to require the attorney general to release the Jeffrey Epstein files and Republicans will have to vote on it, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A shutdown, Schumer said, wouldnt necessarily worsen an environment in which Trump is already challenging the authority of Congress. It will get worse with or without it, because Trump is lawless, Schumer said. Schumers threat comes as Republicans are considering a short-term stopgap spending measure to avoid a Sept. 30 shutdown and as Democrats face what most see as two tough choices if the parties cant negotiate a deal vote with Republicans to keep the government open or let it close indefinitely with no clear exit plan. It also comes amid worsening partisan tensions in the Senate, where negotiations between the two parties over the confirmation process broke down for a second time Thursday and Republicans are changing Senate rules to get around Democratic objections. Democrats are also fuming over the Trump administrations decision to unilaterally claw back $4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid just as negotiations over the spending deadline were getting underway in late August. Sen. Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., speaks during a news conference after a policy luncheon at the CapitolTuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Sen. Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., speaks during a news conference after a policy luncheon at the CapitolTuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Republicans have said that Democrats clearly will be to blame if they dont vote to keep the government open, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has repeatedly said that Schumer needs to come to them with a specific proposal on health care, including an extension of expanded government tax credits for many Americans who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Some Republicans are open to extending those credits before they expire at the end of the year. Less realistic is Democrats demand that Republicans roll back Medicaid cuts enacted in their tax breaks and spending cuts legislation this summer, what Trump called his big, beautiful bill. Schumer said Democrats also want Republicans to commit that the White House wont take back money they have negotiated and Congress has approved after Republicans pushed through a $9 billion cut requested by the White House in July and Trump blocked the additional foreign aid money in August. How do you pass an appropriations bill and let them undo it down the road? Schumer said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., holds an impromptu news conference with reporters just outside the chamber to say he has filed an amendment on the Senate floor to require the attorney general to release the Epstein files and Republicans will have to vote on it, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., holds an impromptu news conference with reporters just outside the chamber to say he has filed an amendment on the Senate floor to require the attorney general to release the Epstein files and Republicans will have to vote on it, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Schumers move to support the spending legislation in March put him in the rare position of bucking his partys base. He said then that of two bad options, a partial government shutdown was worse because it would give Trump even more control to shut down agencies and there would be no off-ramp to get out of it. I think people realize its a tough choice, he said.He faced massive backlash from within the party after the vote, with some activists calling on him to resign. Jeffries temporarily distanced himself from his New York colleague, saying in a statement immediately after Schumers vote that House Democrats will not be complicit. The majority of Senate Democrats also voted against the plan. This time, though, Schumer is in lockstep with Jeffries and in messaging within his caucus. In Democrats closed-door lunch Wednesday, he shared polling that he said suggested most Americans would blame Trump, not Democrats, for a shutdown. I did what I thought was right in March, Schumer said. Its a different situation now than then.