The political landscape is heating up with a potential government shutdown looming, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is pointing the finger squarely at former President Donald Trump and Republicans. The House’s failure to pass a stopgap spending bill on Wednesday has ignited a blame game, with Schumer accusing Trump of instigating a crisis with his demands for the inclusion of the SAVE Act, a measure requiring proof of citizenship to vote.
Schumer, in a procedural move to expedite the process, filed cloture on Thursday for a forthcoming continuing resolution (CR) that would prevent a shutdown. The CR is a short-term measure designed to keep spending levels steady. “By filing today, I am giving the Senate maximum flexibility for preventing a shutdown,” Schumer explained on the Senate floor.
However, the situation is complicated by the inclusion of the SAVE Act in the Republican-backed CR. The measure has sparked a fierce debate, with Democrats vehemently opposing it and Republicans pushing for its inclusion. Schumer vehemently condemned the inclusion of the SAVE Act, calling it a “poison pill” and labelling a potential shutdown as a “Trump shutdown.” He accused Trump of lacking understanding of the legislative process and urged Republicans to resist his demands.
Trump, on the other hand, has taken to Truth Social to reiterate his stance, demanding the inclusion of the SAVE Act in any CR. Schumer, in his remarks, questioned Trump’s ability to lead, stating, “How does anyone expect Donald Trump to be a president when he has such little understanding of the legislative process?”
With the clock ticking down to the October deadline, the political pressure is mounting. Republicans are privately expressing concern that a shutdown could reflect poorly on their party, and some have publicly voiced their reservations about the SAVE Act. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told reporters that he believes Republicans lack leverage in the CR negotiations, and that Schumer is willing to see a shutdown as long as Republicans can be blamed for it.
The blame game is likely to intensify as the October deadline approaches. Whether the sides can reach a compromise or if the country faces a partial government shutdown remains to be seen.
