The Democratic Party is in turmoil as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) publicly rebuked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for what she calls a “betrayal” in his decision to back the Republican-led government funding bill. Schumer’s about-face on the continuing resolution (CR) has ignited outrage among the radical left, with AOC leading the charge against him.
AOC Slams Schumer for “Siding with Republicans”
Schumer, seeing the writing on the wall, announced he would support the GOP funding bill to prevent a partial government shutdown, fearing that prolonged gridlock would strengthen President Donald Trump’s hand in reshaping federal agencies. His rationale? A shutdown would give Trump more power to streamline government operations—a nightmare scenario for big-government Democrats.
But AOC wasn’t having it. Furious over Schumer’s willingness to cut a deal with Republicans, she labeled it a “huge slap in the face” and accused him of caving to conservative pressure. She is now rallying Democrats to oppose Schumer’s plan, calling his support for the GOP bill a major setback for the leftist agenda.
The Democrat Party Splinters as Reality Sets In
The Republican-led House narrowly passed the funding bill, putting pressure on Senate Democrats to either accept reality or be blamed for a shutdown. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, Schumer knows he needs Democrat votes to clear a filibuster and avoid political catastrophe.
However, hard-left Democrats in the House have refused to budge, pushing instead for a radical four-week continuing resolution that would stall Republican policy wins. Their defiance has exposed deep fractures within the party, with moderates like Schumer recognizing that outright obstructionism will only backfire in 2026.