Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) weighed in on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) decision to help pass the GOP government funding bill that she and House Democrats vehemently opposed.
Pelosi expressed her confidence Tuesday in Schumer remaining the party’s leader in the Senate despite activists and certain House members calling for him to step down. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) also backed the leader on Tuesday after withholding his support last week.
When asked if Pelosi supports Schumer as leader, she repeated “I do” many times but took a swipe at his decision last week to cave to Republicans to avert a government shutdown.
“It is about what comes next. I myself don’t give away anything for nothing. I think that’s what happened the other day,” Pelosi said at a “Day of Action” press conference.
“We could have, in my view, perhaps got them to agree to a third way,” Pelosi said of Schumer’s negotiations with Republicans.
Schumer was to be on a book tour this week but postponed his events due to planned protests and security concerns. Instead, he went on a media blitz to defend his decision, declaring “I’m the best leader for the Senate.”
Pelosi and Jeffries had urged Senate Democrats not to go along with a six-month spending plan backed by President Donald Trump and instead push for a bipartisan short-term compromise. But with the clock ticking on midnight Friday government shutdown deadline, Schumer decided against filibustering the GOP plan in the Senate, arguing a shutdown would be a far worse outcome for the federal workers Democrats have sought to defend.
Schumer was among 10 Democrats to side with Republicans to get the GOP-backed government funding bill across the finish line, giving Trump a victory in a days-long shutdown fight.
Democrats voting yes to advance the spending bill with Schumer were Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA), Angus King (I-VT), Dick Durbin, (D-IL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Gary Peters (D-MI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
Democrats expressed their distaste with the GOP plan after they were iced out of negotiations for the short-term legislation that ignores their demand to put guardrails on Elon Musk’s federal cost-cutting mission through the Department of Government Efficiency. The legislation largely locks in current funding levels through Sept. 30.
Pelosi still holds great power in the Democratic Party after being a large player in former President Joe Biden stepping down last year, with much of the party still holding great respect for her leadership.