Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is facing intense criticism from within his own party after agreeing to a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open, avoiding a shutdown fight with President Donald Trump.

The decision has sparked a wave of discontent among congressional Democrats, many of whom had expected Schumer to take a harder stance against the administration.

Schumer, who took control of the Senate Democratic Caucus after the late Sen. Harry Reid’s tenure, was once considered the undisputed leader of his party in the Senate.

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However, his recent move to pass a CR without significant opposition to Trump has led to mounting frustration among Democratic lawmakers.

The reasoning behind Schumer’s decision was clear—this shutdown would not have played out like previous ones.

According to Democratic strategists, Trump would likely have used the situation to further reduce the federal workforce, an outcome that many Democrats wanted to avoid.

Additionally, the CR was considered a “clean” resolution with no major provisions that warranted a fight.

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Despite this, the Democratic Party remains divided. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was among those pushing for a more aggressive stance, reportedly urging members to oppose Schumer’s approach.

The split within the party is seen as one of the most significant in recent years, with some calling it an unprecedented level of disunity.

CNN’s Van Jones described the backlash against Schumer as unlike anything he has seen before.

“I’ve never seen this level of volcanic anger at a Democrat, ever,” Jones said, highlighting the deep frustration among the party’s base.

DEMS IN DISARRAY: Van Jones says there’s a “volcanic eruption of outrage” from Democrats at Chuck Schumer:

“I’ve never seen this level of volcanic anger at a Democrat, ever.”

“There’s an emotional need to stop Donald Trump and Elon Musk from running over this party. And I… pic.twitter.com/mYfPmbNUca

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) March 15, 2025

Many Democrats see Schumer’s handling of the situation as a failure to engage in the kind of strategic battles that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell effectively waged against former President Barack Obama.

Jones noted that the Democratic Party lacks a leader capable of orchestrating legislative fights the way McConnell did for Republicans.

The fallout from Schumer’s decision could have lasting consequences, with speculation that he may face a primary challenge over his handling of the shutdown negotiations.

The growing divide within the party suggests that the fight over Democratic leadership is far from over.

Meanwhile, with the CR now passed, Republicans are turning their attention to the upcoming budget reconciliation package, where they aim to push forward key legislative priorities.

As Democrats continue to battle internal divisions, the GOP is pressing ahead with its policy agenda.

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