Democrats blame Republicans for longest US government shutdown in history

After a historic 43-day authorities shutdown, Democrats are going through robust questions on whether or not the record-breaking impasse was value it, and whether or not Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer gave up too rapidly.

After failing to safe the well being care subsidies they requested, and after a number of senators broke ranks to affix Republicans in reopening the federal government — a transfer extensively seen as a black eye for Schumer’s management — Senate Democrats continued responsible President Donald Trump and the Republican Celebration for the shutdown, beneath strain from Fox Information Digital.

“I’m disenchanted and offended that Republicans have compelled a false and not possible selection between medical insurance and reopening the federal government,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., stated Wednesday. “They promised that there can be a vote on extending well being care subsidies. In the event that they fail to forged that vote, or if the vote fails, they have to be held accountable. That’s their fault.”

Progressive Democrats flip to occasion management after authorities shutdown ends with no well being care ensures

The US Capitol in Washington, DC is seen on November 5, 2025. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg through Getty Photos)

Blumenthal charged that it was Republicans who “compelled the false selection between reopening the federal government and reasonably priced medical insurance,” which he stated has been “discovered objectionable by the American folks, and rightly so.”

Like lots of his Democratic colleagues, the Connecticut senator sidestepped questions on whether or not Schumer might have executed extra to carry the negotiations.

SENATE VOTE TO END GOVERNMENT LEADS TO DEMOCRATIC CIVIL WAR

Seven Democratic senators, together with an unbiased who caucuses with them, and 6 Home Democrats voted final week to reopen the federal government with out extending the pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies that Democrats had been pushing for because the shutdown started Oct. 1.

The intraparty rebel has uncovered a widening rift between Democratic management and its left flank, as progressive candidates accused Schumer of handing energy to Republicans in trade for a funding deal that left key well being care priorities unresolved.

“We now have federal staff throughout the nation who’re operating out of paychecks. We now have SNAP recipients, thousands and thousands of SNAP recipients throughout the nation whose entry to meals stability was in danger, and we have to work out what that was for,” Ocasio-Cortez stated final week, earlier than including, “We can’t allow this type of atrocity with our cowardice.”

Again on Capitol Hill this week, Democrats have been much less keen responsible Schumer for Democrats breaking ranks, as an alternative blaming Republicans for the ultimatum.

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-California, speaks throughout a information convention on Capitol Hill on July 17, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer/Getty Photos)

Requested whether or not the shutdown was value it, Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the rating member of the Home Oversight Committee, advised Fox Information Digital that Democrats “completely have to hold preventing for well being care.”

And Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., stated, “I do not assume you’ll be able to have a look at a shutdown from that sort of perspective” on whether or not it was value it.

“I feel it is completely clear that Republicans now personal this well being care disaster,” McBride added. “Individuals clearly perceive that it was Republicans who did every part they might to stop a vote on the Reasonably priced Care Act tax credit score, together with their willingness to close down the federal government.”

“I voted towards reopening with out securing well being care adjustments and addressing the spikes in well being care surges. That continues to be the main focus, that is still the work forward,” stated Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., when pressed on the identical query and with out answering whether or not the federal government is headed for one more shutdown.

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, speaks throughout a information convention in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2025. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP through Getty Photos)

Democrats who spoke to Fox Information Digital stated they hoped the federal government shouldn’t be headed for one more shutdown, however insisted the occasion should proceed preventing for well being care ensures.

Whereas the federal government reopened final week, the emergency funding invoice retains federal spending at present fiscal yr 2025 ranges solely by Jan. 30, giving Congress extra time to barter a longer-term appropriations bundle for fiscal yr 2026. If Congress can’t attain consensus, the federal government could possibly be headed for one more shutdown.

As a part of a backroom deal to reopen the federal government, Senate Democrats have been promised a separate vote on extending well being care subsidies.

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., attends Day 2 of the Democratic Nationwide Conference in Chicago, Illinois, on August 20, 2024. (Vincent Alban/Reuters)

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“I actually hope we will keep away from one other authorities shutdown, however once more, Republicans promised a vote on extending well being care tax credit score subsidies. In the event that they fail to ship that vote, or if the vote fails, it is their fault. They are going to be held accountable,” Blumenthal stated.

And Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., stated he appeared ahead to Republicans getting an opportunity to vote on well being care ensures in December.

As for whether or not the federal government is headed for one more shutdown, Kelly stated:[You] “I’ve to ask the president and the Republicans within the Home and Senate.”

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Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Kristen Gillibrand and Elissa Slotkin didn’t reply to Fox Information Digital’s query about whether or not the closure was value it, and their workplaces didn’t instantly reply to additional questions.

When White Home spokeswoman Abigail Jackson was requested for remark, the script flipped to Democrats, who blamed Republicans for the federal government shutdown.

“The Democrats shut down the federal government and inflicted nice ache on the American folks as a result of they needed to make use of struggling households as ‘levers’ for his or her far-left agenda,” Jackson advised Fox Information Digital.

“President Trump defeated their absurd transfer and delivered one other victory to the American folks, however it’s alarming that even after their ploy failed, Democrats nonetheless can’t admit that their shutdown has harm the American folks,” she added.