Democrats' shutdown strategy: Let the GOP implode first
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 7. Photo: Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images
House Democrats are largely keeping quiet on what they will demand from Republicans to help stave off a government shutdown as the GOP struggles to get its ducks in a row.
Why it matters: Republicans will almost certainly need Democratic votes to keep the government open — key leverage that Democrats' grassroots are demanding they use to rein in Elon Musk and DOGE.
- Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), a close ally of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), said the funding deadline is "an opportunity" to "end the illegal and unconstitutional things" DOGE has been doing.
State of play: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is reportedly eyeing a stopgap spending measure known as a continuing resolution that would keep the government funded until September at current levels.
- That would be a bitter pill to swallow for dozens of House Republicans who have consistently refused to vote for continuing resolutions.
- But with Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress and the White House, Democrats have locked arms around a message that federal funding is a responsibility that falls entirely on the GOP's shoulders.
- “They have chosen to walk away," Jeffries said at a press conference Thursday, "and they have a responsibility to govern in connection with March 14 and beyond."
What they're saying: "Why would we want to start serving up unilateral concessions when they fight with each other like ferrets in a phone booth?" asked Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Jeffries' top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee.
- Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), the leader of the center-left New Democrat coalition, said Democrats "shouldn't be negotiating against ourselves" and should instead let Republicans come to them with an offer.
- "The strategy is: Don't show our cards" while Republicans "can't get their house in order," said one House Democrat speaking on the condition of anonymity.
- The lawmaker said there is also a "complete variety of opinions" among House Democrats about what the party should be demanding.
Yes, but: One thing Democrats have virtual unanimity on is that they would need assurance that the Trump administration would actually follow whatever spending law Congress passes.
- Democrats have raged as DOGE has moved to unilaterally shutter entire federal agencies that Congress already authorized and funded.
- "I say this as someone who has always voted for the [government funding] deal," said Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), "How do you make a deal with a guy who says 'I don't have to abide by the deal'?"
- Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) proposed "additional language" in the funding measure that would reiterate Congress' authority to appropriate federal funds and give Democrats leverage in court cases against DOGE.
Between the lines: Liberal groups like MoveOn and Indivisible have shifted from a more general strategy of urging Democratic lawmakers to "fight harder" to specifically demanding they use the March 14 deadline as leverage.
- Britt Jacovich, a spokesperson for progressive group MoveOn told Axios: "This can't be a time for politics as usual. The status quo playbook is simply not enough. No option should be off the table."
- "Democratic lawmakers should use every tool at their disposal to stop Donald Trump and Elon Musk's attempts to illegally cut funding," she added.
What we're hearing: Democratic negotiators continued to talk with Republicans as of Wednesday and are pushing for some kind of assurance that the administration will adhere to the law Congress passes, a senior Democratic aide told Axios.
- Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said she doesn't yet know what form Democrats' conditions will take but that she is still "at the table."
