Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York went off on members of her own party Thursday amid a looming government shutdown, saying, “American people, whether they are Republicans, independents, Democrats, are up in arms about Elon Musk and the actual gutting of federal agencies across the board.”
Why It Matters
The House passed a continuing resolution (CR) this week in efforts to keep the government funded. President Donald Trump strongly encouraged GOP lawmakers to push it through.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky defied Trump’s guidance and was the lone House Republican to oppose the bill. The CR now has to pass through the Senate at or before 11:59 p.m. Friday for the government to avoid shutting down.
What To Know
While speaking on CNN Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez said: “This continuing resolution codifies much of this chaos that Elon Musk is—is wreaking havoc on the federal government.”
“This turns the federal government into a slush fund for Donald Trump and Elon Musk,” the congresswoman added. “It sacrifices congressional authority, and it is deeply partisan. And so to me, it is almost unthinkable why Senate Democrats would vote to … hand the few pieces of leverage that we have away for free when we’ve been sent here to protect Social Security, protect Medicaid and protect Medicare.”
AOC: It is almost unthinkable why Senate Democrats would vote to to hand the few pieces of leverage that we have away for free when we’ve been sent here to protect social security, protect medicaid, and protect medicare. pic.twitter.com/PF9gquTxRc
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 14, 2025
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Thursday that he will vote to pass the CR because the alternative—allowing a government shutdown—is the worse option.
In multiple posts on X, the senator from New York said that a federal stoppage “would be a gift” to Trump.
Newsweek reached out to Schumer’s office via email Thursday night for comment.
Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images
What People Are Saying
Ocasio-Cortez said Thursday: “There are members of Congress who have won Trump-held districts in some of the most difficult territories in the United States, who walked the plank and took innumerable risks in order to defend the American people … just to see some Senate Democrats even consider acquiescing to Elon Musk, I think it is a huge slap in the face and I think that there’s a wide sense of betrayal.”
Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington posted to X on Thursday: “It takes no imagination to consider how Trump would use the new authority he’d get from the House GOP slush fund bill to threaten and bully states across the country—you do what he says or he blows up your entire state budget. I will vote NO.”
Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania posted to X on Thursday: “Shut the government down, plunge the country into chaos, risk a recession or Exchange cloture for a 30 day CR that 100% fails. The House GOP CR will then pass the Senate because it only needs 51 votes. Total theater is neither honest with constituents nor a winning argument.”
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont posted to X on Thursday: “This CR would literally take food out of the mouths of hungry children, take healthcare away from seniors, and give a huge tax break to the wealthiest people on the planet. It cannot pass.”
What Happens Next
The Senate needs to green-light the CR before Friday ends to avoid a shutdown. If passed, the spending plan will fund the government through September.
Update 3/13/25, 10:30 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.