The Democratic Divide: Would a Shutdown Have Helped or Hurt Trump?

The New York Times ^ | March 14, 2025, 9:05 p.m. ET | Michael Gold

[E. Pluribus Unum]

When Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, announced that he would vote with Republicans to clear the way for passage of a stopgap spending bill, he argued that a government shutdown would further empower President Trump and Elon Musk to defund government programs and shrink federal agencies.

“Under a shutdown, the Trump administration would have full authority to deem whole agencies, programs and personnel nonessential, furloughing staff with no promise that they would ever be rehired,” Mr. Schumer said on Thursday.

But many Democrats, who were stunned and enraged by Mr. Schumer’s stance, argued that it was in fact the spending extension that would clear the way for Mr. Trump’s executive orders and Mr. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to continue to reshape the government, running roughshod over Congress in the process.

Behind the political divide over how best to push back against Mr. Trump was a practical question: Does the White House have more power or less when the government shuts down?

It’s a complicated subject. Here’s what to know:

What happens in a government shutdown?

When the government shuts down, agencies continue essential work, but federal employees and contractors are not paid. Many employees are furloughed until Congress acts to extend new funding.

Federal agencies typically make contingency plans that lay out who should keep working and what programs need to operate during a shutdown. But spending experts said the decisions about what is deemed “necessary” or “essential” ultimately rest with the White House Office of Management and Budget, currently run by Russell T. Vought.

[Steely Tom]

If ever there was a defeat of an arrogant, stuffed-shirt, seemingly implacable, confident opponent, sending him off the field to the dismay and lamentations of his teammates, it was this. It was Chuck Schumer, handing his arch enemy Trump everything he asked for, while his allies screamed in agony.

[TornadoAlley3]

Vote for Democrats, the inefficient party!

[iamgalt]

Trump would have would benefited from the shutdown. Crying Chuck knew it even if the little rat crazy’s don’t.

[Chode]

[2manydegrees]

As I see it, the current Democrat problems stem from repeatedly being exposed in Televised appearances that are completely wrong for a party trying to find solid, common ground.

Rally after ugly rally. Ugly confusion (at least on Fox) between pro-Palestinian protests and Democrat Senators rallying against this or that Trump action. Stronger looking appearances by young, attractive Trump Cabinet members.

The look is so bad that everybody sees it, all at once. Schumer can’t survive no matter what he does, but he is bettr off taking one for the party here, rather than letting the Democrats expose themselves even further at this bad moment.

[palmer]

Schumer's friends are probably feeling a little nauseous

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I actually feel sorry for him in that pathetic photo. So helpless. So clueless.

[catnipman]

“The Democratic Divide: Would a Shutdown Have Helped or Hurt Trump?”

naturally, the NYT deliberately missed the REAL point of the Dem dilemma: How Badly Would a Government Shutdown Have Hurt the Democrats?” ...

[metmom]

I think it would have helped otherwise, they democrats would not have given the appearance of caving to prevent it.

[Trump Girl Kit Cat]

If ALL of the crap had not been exposed by DOGE it possibly could have hurt republicans HOWEVER I am even skeptical of that because the MSM has become so irrelevant that NO ONE is listening to their screaming any longer!! Our side OWNS social media the Dems are trying like hell to break through on social media and they are FAILING miserably!! They have been so used to the MSM carrying their water for them they have NO CLUE how to carry their own water media wise!! WE are great at memes, WE are great at being funny, WE are great at short to the point messaging with humor!! The Dems are miserable unhappy people full of hate and that doesn’t work on social media!!

[Organic Panic]

Helped. A shutdown would have hurt dems by showing that no one would notice if there was a government shutdown.

[metmom]

I think a couple other factors is that social media allows for the truth to be exposed and known and the MSM can’t control the narrative anymore.

Plus, the democrats still don’t realize that nobody wants what they are selling. The election results and what is says still have not soaked into their demonically deceived brains.

[avital2]

a shutdown would have preoccupied Congress - and delayed Trump tax cut legislation. it is important to pass that soonest so that all see and feel its effects, pumping the economy, changing moods and putting R’s in catbird seat for mid-terms.