House Democrats found themselves in the familiar position this week of seething at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for negotiating a deal with Republicans to keep the government funded.
Why it matters: While his caucus remains behind him, Schumer is becoming persona non grata for much of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
- "I'm gonna continue to tell you that Schumer needs to get the hell out over and over and over until he does," Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) told Axios.
- "He continues to demonstrate to us that he can't meet the moment," she added.
- Another House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity to offer insights into private conversations among lawmakers, told Axios: "The main feeling among members is a lack of trust in his strength and ability to strike a hard bargain."
State of play: The House voted Tuesday to pass an appropriations package that funds the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, State and Transportation until September.
- It also keeps the Department of Homeland Security funded at 2025 levels until Feb. 13, which is meant to give Senate Democrats and the White House enough time to hash out a final deal on ICE and Customs and Border Protection reforms.
- But while Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) have said they won't accept anything short of reforms of those agencies, their GOP counterparts have cast doubt on the prospect of a quick deal.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) went so far as to tell reporters that a deal by Feb. 13 was an "impossibility," floating a year-long stopgap funding bill to keep DHS open.
What they're saying: Jeffries has essentially threatened to allow a DHS shutdown if his demands aren't met, saying in a statement Tuesday, "Absent bold and meaningful change, there is no credible path forward with respect to the Department of Homeland Security funding bill next week."
- But Schumer, asked if he would make the same ultimatum at a press conference with Jeffries on Wednesday, told reporters, "I'm just going to say we're sending them a proposal and we await their response."
- Senate Democrats — unlike their House counterparts — have the ability to block a DHS funding bill because it takes a 60-vote majority to pass it in the upper chamber.
What we're hearing: Some Democrats, worried that the threat of a DHS shutdown is not enough to force Republicans to the table, feel Schumer gave up the party's best leverage by cutting a deal to reopen the rest of the government.
- "Every time that we are winning, we seem to somehow sabotage [it]," Ramirez fumed, noting that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has already ruled out several Democratic demands.
- Said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.): "Personally I was of the opinion ... that, 'What are we going to get in 10 days that we didn't get?'"
- A second House Democrat who spoke on the condition of anonymity told Axios that "all those spending bills, that is the most leverage," and that "many folks in the [House] Democratic caucus wish that we had more confidence in Schumer's ability to navigate a good, tough deal."
Yes, but: Some progressive House Democrats are still confident that the DHS bill is enough leverage to secure some concessions.
- "I don't think Republicans want a DHS shutdown," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told Axios.
- She added: "If Donald Trump wants to ... issue the State of the Union with the entire Department of Homeland Security shut down, I think that is a terrible indictment of his leadership. And I do think they care."
- Jayapal and Rep. Chuy García (D-Ill.) both argued that public opinion against ICE is another piece of leverage for Democrats, with García telling Axios: "They 'ought to be worried how their policies are faring with the American people."
The bottom line: "It could be a huge failure" for Senate Democrats, Ocasio-Cortez says, if they fail to secure the reforms the party are demanding.
- "The stakes are quite high."
