By Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer struck a defiant tone this week, suggesting that Democrats are gaining politically from the ongoing government shutdown—even as the stalemate stretches into its ninth day and economic pain spreads across the country.
In an interview published Wednesday, Schumer told Punchbowl News that the public is increasingly siding with Democrats in the funding standoff. “We knew that this would be a hard fight. It is still a hard fight,” he said. “But every day we’re getting better and better as the message sinks in more and more deeply.” He added pointedly, “Every day gets better for us.”
That optimism drew immediate condemnation from Republicans, who accused the New York Democrat of celebrating political gain while federal workers face lost wages and critical services stall. “While federal workers stress over missed paychecks, military families turn to food pantries, and airports around the country face delays—Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are bragging that ‘every day gets better’ for them,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on Twitter. “What a disgusting and revealing statement. Democrats are gleeful about inflicting pain on the American people.”
While federal workers stress over missed paychecks, military families turn to food pantries, and airports around the country face delays — Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are bragging that “every day gets better” for them.
What a disgusting and revealing statement.
Democrats… pic.twitter.com/OzugEJjSuS
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) October 9, 2025
The shutdown—now approaching a second week—has frozen pay for federal employees and jeopardized operations for contractors dependent on government services. Military families could miss their next pay cycle if the closure continues past October 15.
Despite the mounting pressure, Schumer has kept most Senate Democrats unified in opposing any funding resolution that doesn’t include the party’s $1.5 trillion spending increase, according to The Daily Caller. Only a handful—Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, and independent Sen. Angus King of Maine—have broken ranks to back a temporary GOP-led funding measure.
Some Democrats have quietly acknowledged the real-world fallout. Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper told the outlet that disruptions to air travel and closures of national parks during the peak autumn tourism season are “a real problem.” Still, he voted with Schumer to sustain the shutdown.
Schumer remains confident that public opinion will ultimately turn against Republicans, who currently control both chambers of Congress and the presidency. “Even the pain that’s caused—the data we have seen and just talking to people—they blame Trump,” Schumer said. “When things are actually shut down, they blame Trump. When things aren’t happening, they blame Trump. Because he’s in charge. You don’t need a political science PhD to understand they control everything.”
Politico reported the real reason why Schumer was holding American military members hostage. He is terrified of his leftwing base and worried he could be primaried by New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“He hasn’t surrendered yet,” said Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin, who called on Schumer to step down in March. “I call that progress, and we’re cheering him on now.”
Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), who said in March “it may be time” for Schumer to step aside, is now pleased with the top Senate leader’s coordination with top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries — at least “at this point.”
“I think it looks great right now,” Ivey said, adding that the collaboration between the two leaders was “moving things in the right direction for both the House and the Senate Democrats.”
Republicans hold a 53-seat majority in the Senate, meaning Schumer would need bipartisan cooperation to advance any funding package, a prospect he has largely dismissed.
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