Congressional Democrats are raising concerns about a potential government shutdown, suggesting they might oppose funding legislation to protest former President Donald Trump's influence on federal policies. Several prominent Democrats have publicly hinted at this possibility, while simultaneously positioning themselves to blame Republicans should a shutdown occur.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries questioned the Democrats' leverage in the situation, given the Republican majority in both chambers and the presidency. He expressed confusion over the concessions Democrats could realistically demand, despite acknowledging the importance of the “governing season.”

Senator Andy Kim implied a shutdown could impede the Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative championed by Trump allies that has drawn criticism from Democrats. Kim asserted that the onus of preventing a shutdown rests solely on the Republican majority, framing it as a test of their governing ability. He also expressed concerns about what he perceived as potentially unconstitutional actions by the administration.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar highlighted Democratic opposition to Trump's reported advocacy for reduced federal spending, arguing it violates the principle of separation of powers. Aguilar emphasized the importance of adhering to established laws and expressed skepticism about Republicans' willingness to challenge Trump on this issue.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez advocated for Democrats to extract significant concessions in exchange for their support on government funding. This echoes past fiscal standoffs where Democrats leveraged the threat of a shutdown to bring Republicans back to the negotiating table. Previously, Jeffries had warned of the negative impacts of a shutdown, including disruptions to holiday travel and the non-payment of essential federal employees like border patrol and TSA agents.

Securing government funding has consistently been a challenge within the House Republican conference. GOP leadership has frequently relied on Democratic votes to pass funding bills. Despite now controlling the Senate, the Republicans’ slim majority in the House necessitates near-unanimous support within their ranks to pass legislation without Democratic assistance.

With the March 14th funding deadline approaching, the House has limited time remaining in session. Democrats have previously characterized shutdowns as having disastrous consequences for the economy and federal employees. Aguilar reiterated this stance, emphasizing the need to avoid a shutdown and its detrimental impact on American families.