Democrats Turn on Schumer After Shutdown Deal: What Really Happened Inside the Party

By ADIL MD

Democrats criticize Schumer after the shutdown deal, arguing that the Senate leader failed to secure essential priorities and allowed Republicans to shape the final outcome. The compromise has sparked anger across the party, fueling internal divisions and raising new questions about Chuck Schumer’s leadership during one of Washington’s most tense political standoffs.

The deal to end the shutdown, while containing some victories — like back pay for federal workers — fell far short of the promises Democrats made to their base. The absence of a firm guarantee on extending health-care tax credits has galvanized progressives, who see Schumer’s opposition as surface-level posturing.

“It was a colossal leadership failure,” says Rick Wilson, former Republican strategist, echoing the sentiments of many across the Democratic spectrum.

Why the anger?
Several factors are fueling the outrage:

• Eight Senate Democrats broke ranks to support the deal with Republicans. None are facing re-election in 2026, raising questions about whether political safety played a role.

• Progressive groups, including MoveOn and Our Revolution, have called for Schumer’s resignation, arguing that his time as minority leader should come to an end.

• Even influential moderates are signaling deep frustration. Rep. Ro Khanna said bluntly, “Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced.”

Schumer’s defense is two-fold. First, he argues the deal, though imperfect, prevented far worse consequences. “A shutdown would have been 15 or 20 times worse,” he told reporters. republicanleader.senate.gov+1
Second, he frames his opposition to the deal as a matter of principle: he claims he “cannot in good faith support” a resolution that fails to responsibly address healthcare costs. The Washington Post

Some Senate Democrats are sympathetic. Sen. Peter Welch said Schumer’s job is inherently difficult: “He’s first among equals … there’s independent agency for senators.” The Washington Post

Still, for many in the party, this moment reveals a deep fault line: how far should the party push against Republicans? And who will lead them in that fight?

Schumer’s political calculation to avoid a damaging shutdown may have saved the government — but cost him dearly in credibility. With his leadership now under siege, Democrats must decide whether the current power structure still reflects the energy and demands of their base.