Furious Democrats Call for Schumer to Be Replaced After Shutdown Cave

Left-wing activists and Democratic officials erupted in fury on Monday after eight Senate Democrats broke ranks and sided with Republicans to end the lengthy federal government shutdown — a move widely viewed as a humiliating concession for the party’s leadership.

Though the deal reportedly came together without the direction of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, many Democrats and leftist organizations immediately placed the blame squarely on him for failing to prevent the defections.

“Despite voting against the deal, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is emerging as the top target for not containing the defections,” Axios reported, citing frustrated lawmakers within the party.

“Schumer is voting no,” one senior House Democrat told the outlet. “But that doesn’t mean [a] primary [challenge is] not coming.”

According to reports, the eight Senate Democrats secured only a promise from Senate Republicans that a vote would eventually be allowed on a bill to permanently extend COVID-era Obamacare subsidies — a vague pledge that immediately sparked outrage among progressive lawmakers.

“It’s complete BS,” Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont told Axios. “A concept of a possible vote. People need healthcare, damn it. Not some lame promise about a mythical future vote.”

“Sounds like a lousy deal to me,” added Rep. Jared Huffman of California.

“People are furious,” said another House Democrat described as a “centrist.” “It’s an awful deal and a total failure to use leverage for anything real.”

A Democrat described by Axios as “progressive” put it even more bluntly, saying “people are pissed” because Senate Democrats “got almost nothing” in return.

Outside of Congress, activist nonprofits joined the attack. MoveOn spokesman Joel Payne claimed the agreement would “screw over millions of working Americans” and accused lawmakers of ignoring what he called a “clear message” from voters.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont also slammed the eight senators who voted with the GOP.

“Tonight, eight Democrats voted with the Republicans to allow them to go forward on this continuing resolution,” Sanders said Sunday. “And to my mind, this was a very, very bad vote.”

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker denounced it entirely, declaring on X: “This is not a deal — it’s an empty promise.”

“Tonight’s vote does NOTHING to address this Republican health care crisis,” Sen. Adam Schiff of California wrote.

Some critics went even further. Policy consultant and independent journalist Adam Cochran accused Schumer of quietly coordinating the deal while staging political distance:

“Schumer organized this, and then is voting no last second, and letting retiring Dems take the heat,” he wrote on X. “If this goes through, that needs to be the end of Schumer leadership regardless of how he votes. He’s the minority leader, the buck stops at him.”

As the Democratic Party fractures further, President Donald J. Trump — currently serving his second term — continues to emphasize party unity, economic recovery, and restoring public confidence in government leadership.