Dems say they are open to shutting down government to oppose Trump 'if we have to'
WASHINGTON – Some Congressional Democrats say they are open to shutting down the federal government in March over the Trump administration's moves to dismantle government programs and agencies.
Federal government funding expires on March 14. To avoid a painful shutdown, Congress will need to pass legislation designating new spending levels or extend current ones.
For the last two years, the Republican-controlled House has needed Democrats to pass funding extensions as several conservatives oppose them.
"They should not count on that this time around," Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "If we have to take steps to be able to hold (the Trump administration) accountable, use the leverage that we have to force it, I cannot support efforts that will continue this lawlessness that we're seeing when it comes to this administration's action."
Democrats have argued that several of the Trump administration's actions – including dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, gutting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and a now-rescinded directive to freeze federal grants – are unconstitutional because they ignore congressional spending directions put into law through the annual appropriations bill.
"That is not something that should be allowed," Kim said.
Asked by host Kristen Welker to clarify whether he was open to voting to shut down the government to make this point, Kim said he doesn't want it to come to that.
"But we are at a point where we are basically on the cusp of a constitutional crisis seeing this administration taking steps that are so clearly illegal," he said. "Until we see a change in that behavior, we should not allow and condone that, nor should we assist in that."
Government funding is one of the Democrats' only points of leverage in Washington, where Republicans control the House, Senate and White House.
But when government funding expires in five weeks, Republicans will control the House only 217-215. That means Republicans will need total unanimity to pass a bill in the chamber.
And Republicans control the Senate 53-47 – which is not a wide enough margin to overcome the 60-vote threshold needed to bypass the filibuster, meaning Republicans will need Democrats to avoid a shutdown.
Kim is one of several Democrats to indicate a willingness to let the government shut down if Republicans can't reassure them that their spending directives will actually be implemented.
"It feels impossible," Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., told Semafor earlier this week. "What’s the point of writing a budget if the president’s going to ignore it? It’s a problem without precedent."
Democrats are arguing that the onus would be on Republicans if a shutdown does happen because they hold the majority in both chambers.
"They’re in charge, they have to work with us," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told Semafor.
What happens during a government shutdown?
During a government shutdown, all government functions that are not deemed essential are put on hold and nonessential workers are furloughed without pay until the government reopens.
National parks would be closed to the public, Food and Drug Administration food safety inspections could be delayed, agencies would largely not be allowed to issue new loans, and there could be disruptions to passport and visa services. Federal courts could be disrupted if a shutdown stretched on for weeks.
Air traffic control, law enforcement, border protection, power grid maintenance and Social Security and Medicare payments would continue under a shutdown. The U.S. Postal Service would also continue functioning as it doesn't rely on Congress for funding.