Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is losing his grip on power within the Democratic Party, insiders report. A growing number of Senate Democrats are again breaking with Schumer over government funding legislation, threatening a shutdown this Friday over illegal immigration enforcement they say goes too far.
At least eight Senate Democrats have publicly stated they will vote against a Department of Homeland Security funding package, putting Schumer in a difficult position.
The defections come as Republicans push for increased immigration enforcement funding in line with President Donald Trump’s promise to deport illegal immigrants and overall “America First” agenda.
“This is about basic law enforcement,” said Senate Republican Leader John Thune.
“We’re simply asking that ICE have the resources to do the job Congress has already told them to do. If Democrats want to shut down the government over that, they’ll have to explain it to the American people.”
Democratic aides said Schumer has been working to convince Democrats to support the funding package, afraid that a shutdown would be politically damaging heading into the 2026 midterms.
But far-Left Democrats appear unmoved by those appeals.
The Friday deadline adds urgency to Schumer’s plight. If no agreement is reached, hundreds of thousands of federal workers would be furloughed and government services would be disrupted.
That leaves Schumer and his allies scrambling to pass a short-term continuing resolution to avoid a shutdown, or force negotiations on a revised package that could win broader support. That would rely on Republican help… which may not be coming.
“If Leader Thune agrees to split the bills just as Speaker [Mike] Johnson split them in the House and puts the five on the floor, I’m confident they will sail t hrough the chamber and we will have funded 96% of the federal government,” Schumer said Tuesday.
But without Thune’s help, Schumer warned that Democrats will “guarantee yet another unnecessary government shutdown this Friday.”
The longtime Democratic leader narrowly survived the last shutdown fight in December.
Could Friday finally spell the end for Schumer?
Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) November 10, 2025