Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) held a press briefing Thursday alongside fellow Senate Democrats to discuss the Trump administration’s moves to freeze federal funds and shutter government agencies, with a particular focus on the proposed elimination of the Department of Education.
The briefing highlighted Democratic concerns over the potential impacts on government spending, Congressional oversight, and programs like school lunches and Head Start, while outlining their strategies to counter these actions.
Schumer opened by fielding questions on whether Democrats would tie constraints on agency cuts to government spending resolutions, potentially risking a shutdown.
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“Democrats are working to avoid a shutdown. If there’s a shutdown, it’s on the Republicans’ back,” he said, noting that Republicans have yet to present a detailed proposal. He emphasized that Democrats are not pushing for cuts but are instead focused on maintaining current funding levels.
When asked if Democrats could do more than “message” on these issues given Republican control of Congress, Schumer pointed to a multi-pronged approach.
“We have filed over a hundred lawsuits, working with the [state] AGs and independent groups. We’ve won 87 percent of them,” he said, citing a recent victory where cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) were rejected by courts.
He also mentioned ongoing legislative efforts and a mobilization campaign targeting Republican lawmakers in their home states.
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“We’re focusing in all of our states on the Republican congressmen and senators voting for things that will be so unpopular,” Schumer added, referencing the upcoming reconciliation process as a chance to force votes on contentious issues.
Concerns from constituents about the broader fallout of these cuts—particularly to programs like school lunches and Head Start—were also raised. Schumer warned of dire consequences if the Department of Education were eliminated.
“Kids are going to go hungry. I don’t know where they’re going to get their breakfast, where they’re going to get their lunches,” he said, suggesting schools would struggle without federal support. He acknowledged that some programs fall under the Department of Agriculture but stressed the interconnected strain on education funding.
The briefing also touched on Republican responses to the administration’s plans. Schumer noted that GOP senators had begun pushing back against Trump adviser Elon Musk’s influence, urging a decision package that could bypass the Senate filibuster via reconciliation.
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“What Trump has proposed—whether it’s tariffs or Social Security or Medicaid or tax breaks for billionaires—is so unpopular with the American people that the Republicans are ducking and trying to bob and weave,” Schumer said. He suggested this unease stems from growing public disapproval, claiming, “The more they see [Trump’s agenda], the less they like it.”
The Trump administration’s efforts to freeze funds and close agencies, including plans to impound spending approved by Congress, have faced legal challenges under the Impoundment Control Act. Democrats argue these moves lack Congressional consent, while some Republicans frame them as fiscal responsibility.
As the March 14 deadline for the current continuing resolution nears, both sides are gearing up for a showdown over funding and policy priorities, with Democrats vowing to use lawsuits, legislation, and public pressure to protect federal programs.
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