Many congressional Democrats aren't on board with the Senate deal that could reopen the government after a historically long shutdown.
Why it matters: Many lawmakers, pundits and party leaders have suggested that Democrats folded in their standoff against Republicans and President Trump, giving in to fatigue and frustration.
- Coming off an overall successful election last Tuesday, Democrats are once again divided.
- The shutdown deal did not extend health care subsidies — their one big ask behind the prolonged standoff.
- Many congressional Democrats have expressed frustration with the party's leadership, particularly with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — signaling that change may be coming.
Driving the news: Eight Senate Democrats, excluding Schumer, broke ranks to advance a deal that will fund the government until late January.
- The deal also reverses shutdown reductions in force (RIFs) and promises a vote on Affordable Care Act tax credits and funds several agencies.
- "After 40 long days, I'm hopeful that we can finally bring the shutdown to an end," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.).
Here's what to know.
What Democrats wanted
Context: Health care costs were the party's biggest sticking point in refusing to negotiate to reopen the government.
- The Democrats named their price to end the shutdown — a one-year extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits that would help 22 million people.
- Senate Dems said the shutdown would continue until the credits were added to the deal.
Zoom out: The Democrats were hoping to use the government shutdown for leverage against the Trump administration, fueled by grassroots pressure.
- Schumer was under heavy political pressure not to fold without securing the ACA extension, given his decision to support a Republican measure earlier in the year.
- Many Democrats suggested calling on the party to make the shutdown process as painful as possible for Republicans in order to get their ACA tax credits over the goal line and gain an advantage heading into next year's midterms.
- Though the deal guarantees a future Senate vote on those subsidies, it's already been criticized as a pipe dream, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) calling the promise a "meaningless gesture."
What Democrats got
The agreement includes:
- An extension of government funding through Jan. 30
- Funding for food stamps through fiscal year 2026
- The reversal of Trump's federal worker layoffs during the shutdown through RIFs.
The turning point in the shutdown fight
Critics dinged Democrats for losing their leverage over Republicans and President Trump.
- The Trump administration had made the shutdown too hard to ignore — specifically through the Federal Aviation Administration canceling flights and freezing SNAP benefits for millions.
Trump, who had been on the sidelines for most of the shutdown fight, got involved late last week, calling on the Senate to stay in D.C. over the weekend to get a deal done, amping up the pressure. He also urged Republicans to nuke the filibuster, arguing it gave Democrats an advantage during the shutdown.
- Democrats blinked, and the party lost any effectiveness or leverage in Washington, many Democrats told Axios.
- "People are furious," one House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Axios. "It's an awful deal and a total failure to use leverage for anything real."
- "While Trump and Republicans inflict pain on people, Democrats' most important job is to fight back," Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote on X. "This deal is a mistake."
Of note: Many polls showed Americans blamed Republicans and Trump for the shutdown.
Democrats furious with leadership
House Democrats seem to oppose the Senate's deal, and look slated to vote against it. The Republicans hold a slim margin in the House, which means Democratic opposition could complicate the deal's path to passage.
- Schumer, who voted against the deal, has become a top target of many House Democrats, Axios' Andrew Solender writes.
Flashback: House Democrats have been furious with Schumer for months.
- Many lawmakers and the party's base felt that Schumer betrayed them in March by supporting a Republican measure that was almost entirely opposed.
- Many House Democrats, in the weeks preceding the shutdown, were concerned that Schumer and the Senate would support funding the government and ultimately fold to Republican asks.
- At the time, one House Democrat told Axios: "The overriding concern was that Senate Democrats will get cold feet. Schumer can't sh*t the bed."
The other side: The divisions within the Democratic Party go deeper as dozens of Democrats running for U.S. House seats appear unlikely to support House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) as party leader.
- Like Schumer, Jeffries has emerged as a target from growing grassroots frustration.
Go deeper:
Which Senate Democrats voted to end the shutdown?
"It's complete BS": Dems go ballistic over Senate shutdown deal
