Democrats Demand Trump Address Government Shutdown Amid Record-Breaking Crisis
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., joined at left by Sen. Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the GOP whip, speaks with reporters following a closed-door meeting with Vice President JD Vance on day 28 of the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
By Charlie McCarthy | Wednesday, 05 November 2025 10:39 AM EST
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Wednesday to demand “a bipartisan meeting” to discuss the government shutdown. The move comes as Democrats seek to pressure Republicans over the ongoing stalemate, which has left 750,000 federal workers furloughed and millions more working without pay.
The shutdown, now in its 36th day, has broken records as the longest in U.S. history. Economists warn it could cost the economy up to $14 billion and reduce fourth-quarter GDP by as much as 2%. Schumer and Jeffries framed their request as a bid to “end the GOP shutdown of the federal government” and address what they called a “Republican healthcare crisis.”
The letter, which included a pointed reference to Trump’s frequent use of “Thank you for your attention,” aimed to highlight Democratic resolve. Meanwhile, bipartisan efforts to resolve the standoff continued, with senators exploring proposals to reopen parts of the government in exchange for future votes on preserving Obamacare subsidies.
Trump, during a meeting with GOP lawmakers, urged Republicans to eliminate the Senate filibuster, calling it essential to overcoming “Democrat obstruction.” He accused Senate Democrats of acting as “kamikaze pilots” and claimed they were harming millions of Americans by prolonging the shutdown.
The crisis has intensified political tensions as both sides prepare for further negotiations.
