Schumer’s Shutdown Could Trigger a Government Reset

A government shutdown is now imminent after Senate Democrats refused to advance a House GOP-backed continuing resolution (CR) that would have kept the government funded for six months.

The deadlock leaves federal agencies on the brink of closure as lawmakers remain at an impasse over the budget reconciliation process.

The Senate vote blocked a cloture motion that would have allowed debate to move forward on the House’s funding measure.

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With no short-term agreement in place, the government is set to run out of funding, forcing non-essential services to halt operations while lawmakers attempt to reach a deal.

Democrats have already begun shaping their public messaging, attempting to shift blame onto Republicans, with scripted messaging, for the impending shutdown.

IT HAPPENED AGAIN! The people behind Democrats in Congress sent the script to *every* member and they are now posting THE EXACT SAME THING IN UNISON!

You’ll remember that a bunch of Democratic senators posted videos before Trump’s Congressional address with the same script.… pic.twitter.com/PDFTJKBTVC

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 13, 2025

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However, critics argue that their refusal to pass the CR has created the very crisis they are now attempting to pin on the GOP.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has been at the forefront of the Democratic opposition, leading to what some are now calling the “Schumer Shutdown.”

Schumer isn’t smart enough to understand dems not voting to keep the government open will backfire. A shutdown forces only essential employees to work and therefore, proves Trump, Musk and DOGE right about the size of the federal workforce. https://t.co/HNfhkk819f

— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) March 12, 2025

Conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt weighed in on the potential impact of a prolonged shutdown, suggesting that it could lead to a fundamental restructuring of the federal workforce.

“If the Senate Democrats shutter most of the government by voting down the CR, they will empower President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Russell Vought to pare the federal government workforce to its genuinely essential size, most of which will be at DOD, CIA, NSA, Homeland Security, DOJ,” Hewitt stated.

He noted that while entitlement payments such as Social Security checks would continue, other federal employees would see their pay halted—and possibly never reinstated if the shutdown lasts long enough.

“I suspect this time those who are recalled to work eventually won’t get back pay,” Hewitt added.

Hewitt also suggested that President Trump should take a different approach to the shutdown than previous administrations, ensuring that high-profile public landmarks remain open to avoid unnecessary disruption to the general public.

“The president should also keep the lost cost, high value, high visibility stuff like the Washington Monument, Mt. Rushmore parking lot etc. open and not punish the citizenry as President Obama did,” Hewitt explained.

He further speculated that a prolonged shutdown could reveal which federal roles are truly necessary and which agencies could be permanently reduced or eliminated.

“A long shutdown will reveal—in stark terms—what we must have and what can be cut,” he stated. “Don’t be surprised if more than half of the 2.1 million civilian federal employees never come back to work.”

Hewitt also suggested that the situation could give Trump a major opportunity to reset the balance of power between the presidency and the entrenched federal bureaucracy.

“Don’t be surprised if the Article II authority of the president comes into full play and appropriate and constitutional use,” he said.

If the @SenateDems shutter most of the government by voting down the CR, they will empower President @realDonaldTrump @elonmusk and @russvought to pare the federal government workforce to its genuinely essential size, most of which will be at DOD, CIA, NSA, Homeland Security,…

— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) March 12, 2025

As the deadline approaches, both parties remain locked in a high-stakes standoff.

Republicans have pushed for a longer-term funding solution while Democrats continue to hold out, arguing that the GOP-backed resolution fails to address their budgetary priorities.

The longer the impasse drags on, the more pressure will build on lawmakers to find a solution. However, with Democrats refusing to advance the CR, it appears the shutdown is all but certain.

How long the shutdown will last—and what its long-term impact will be—remains to be seen. But as negotiations continue, it’s clear that the battle over government spending is far from over.

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