Republicans will need Democrats’ help to pass funding bill by 14 March as hard-right lawmakers push to cut costs

Summary

With a government shutdown looming, Democrats are debating whether to use it as leverage against Trump’s sweeping federal cuts.

Some argue withholding support for a funding bill could challenge Trump’s radical restructuring, including mass firings and agency shutdowns.

The GOP-controlled Congress must secure Democratic votes to pass a funding bill, but hard-right demands complicate negotiations.

Concerns grow that Trump may exploit a shutdown to sideline federal agencies, raising fears that this could be the most disruptive shutdown yet.

  • Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    1·
    7 days ago

    This is a lose/lose for Democrats. If they cooperate, it’s awful messaging to their base. If they create a shutdown, now all the pain being felt is THEIR FAULT. Not to mention, it just plays into the “We didn’t need these Federal workers” talking point.

    They should have acted earlier. No planning, just reacting. Terrible, no skills politics.

    • MegaUltraChicken@lemmy.worldEnglish
      12·
      7 days ago

      The GOP has control over all branches of government. I don’t see why the Democrats have to clean up ANY of their shit. They aren’t creating a shutdown. That’s GOP framing.

      • Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        1·
        7 days ago

        We are discussing the post, which is about Democrat support or not of a government shutdown. You don’t have to participate in that discussion, but THAT’S THE DISCUSSION.

        • MegaUltraChicken@lemmy.worldEnglish
          5·
          7 days ago

          Yes, your conclusion that this is a “lose/lose” for the Democrats is incorrect. I explained why in my comment. If you dont want to defend that position that’s fine. You’re under no obligation to respond to me or support what you say, but I’m clearly participating in the same discussion.

    • DomeGuy@lemmy.world
      5·
      7 days ago

      The Democrats are a minority in both chambers of Congress. The Republicans should be able to pass a simple spending plan on a party line vote, and if they can’t then their dysfunction is not and should never be treated as the Democrats’ fault

      • Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        1·
        7 days ago

        But you can’t fool yourself into thinking that Trump, Musk, et. al., won’t push that messaging from the bully pulpit, and the press won’t AT LEAST half-cooperate.

        It doesn’t matter at all what SHOULD BE, or what IS NOT. The message is all that matters.

    • ryathal@sh.itjust.works
      3·
      7 days ago

      There’s a win if the Democrats really want one. Shutting down the government stops Doge, and cuts more than musk could ever dream of. They can frame it as Republicans trying to spend money and Democrats being about responsibility. Make it about a failure of Trump’s leadership.

      It’s a tough line to walk, because a prolonged shutdown would possibly backfire, but it’s probably worth the risk. Shutdowns do tend to hurt the party in power more than the opposition.

      This is a way to slam the brakes on Trump and be an opposition party if they have the spine for it.

      • Fredthefishlord
        3·
        6 days ago

        Genuinely, why do you think shutting down the government would stop doge??? You know they can just walk in and turn on computers themselves… And they’ll just pay anyone who needs to put in a password claiming they’re essential…

        • ryathal@sh.itjust.works
          1·
          6 days ago

          It puts them in the tough spot of declaring Doge essential. That gives a huge opening for the Democrats to attack, when 80% of the government is shut down, that there is meaningful fraud in what Trump kept open. It’s also going to be hard to get someone to come in to unlock things when they aren’t getting paid. Even essential employees don’t get paid in a shutdown, they get back pay after like everyone else when Congress approves it.