Senate Democrats encouraged each other to dig in and stand up to President Trump on government funding during a private caucus meeting Tuesday, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: A government shutdown is just hours away without a compromise from lawmakers — and Democratic resolve is only strengthening.
- The meeting of Senate Democrats on Tuesday was described by multiple sources as a motivational one, with lawmakers encouraging each other to hold their ground against the administration.
- Trump spent much of Tuesday essentially warning Democrats that during a shutdown he could do things like "cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that (Democrats) like, cutting programs that they like."
- A small group of Senate Democrats, though, remain on the fence on the funding fight, the sources said. But there is almost certainly not enough Democratic support to pass a funding measure before midnight.
The big picture: Instead of racing toward a deal to avoid a government shutdown, Tuesday was full of finger-pointing.
- "We are 10 hours away from government funding expiring simply because Republicans are not serious about keeping it open," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said at a Capitol press conference.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters that "there isn't any substantive reason why there ought to be a government shutdown."
- "If the government shuts down, it is on the Senate Democrats," Thune said.
Between the lines: Senate Republicans need at least eight Democratic lawmakers to vote to fund the government. While some Democrats might cross the aisle, getting to eight is unlikely.
- Some Senate Democrats still aren't sold on the idea of shutting the government down, according to multiple sources.
- Sources pointed to moderates like Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) as senators to watch.
- Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has already said he will vote for the bill.
Go deeper: 750K federal workers risk furloughs in government shutdown, CBO estimates
