By all accounts, Chuck Schumer’s decision to support the continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown has opened a huge rift in the Democratic Party. I’m not sure I agree with Schumer’s reasoning, which he explains here.
First, a shutdown would give Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk permission to destroy vital government services at a significantly faster rate than they can right now.Under a shutdown, the Trump administration would have wide-ranging authority to deem whole agencies, programs and personnel nonessential, furloughing staff members with no promise they would ever be rehired.
The decisions about what is essential would, in practice, be largely up to the executive branch, with few left at agencies to check it.
Mr. Musk has reportedly said that he wants a shutdown and may already be planning how to use one to his advantage.
See also the dialogue between Schumer and Chris Hayes from last night.
I don’t think Chuck Schumer and whichever other senators may join him today grasp the size of the chasm they’re opening up. I get the sense the full level of it will only begin to dawn on them sometime next week. If I’m right that they don’t fully grasp it, why don’t they? Well, you generally don’t see things you’re heavily invested in not seeing. Washington and particularly the Capitol also remain in their own bubble of a sorts, despite the fact that in many key ways it is at the very center of the storm.
I’m sorry for the morbid analogy, but I think of those Chernobyl scenes with people who’ve already been irradiated by didn’t realize it yet. They think they’re fine. But they’re not. They’ll find out in a few days.
It’s not clear to me what all is in the CR, but it’s supposed to be good for the rest of fiscal year 2025. That is, until September 30. And the Senate is expected to vote on it this afternoon. The old CR expires at midnight tonight.