Last week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer joined with Republicans to pass a partisan and dangerous spending bill. In doing so, he acted against a majority of Democratic Senators and every House Democrat save one to greenlight the destructive Musk-Trump agenda. 

This bill cuts funding for rural water systems, but more significantly, it continues to give free rein to Elon Musk and Donald Trump in their illegal dismantling of key federal agencies. It’s critical that Musk-Trump be forcefully opposed. With his waving through of the budget bill, Schumer showed he’s not up to the task. It’s time for new leadership. 

Senate Democrats Greenlight a Dangerous Spending Bill

The debate over this spending bill last week was several months in the making. It was no secret that government funding was set to expire March 14 and that, absent a new spending bill, there would be a partial government shutdown. 

Passing this bill required 60 votes in the Senate, meaning that Republicans could not pass the budget without Democratic votes. This presented a huge and very rare point of leverage. (Musk-Trump’s allies in Congress are also pushing a reconciliation bill to pass a massive budget and tax package, which only requires a simple majority of 51 votes from the Senate.)

With Musk and Trump running wild, unilaterally and illegally shuttering key federal agencies and programs, Democrats in the Senate could have stood strong. Musk and Trump are already executing a partial government shutdown. Democrats could and should have used this as an opportunity to force Republicans to negotiate and rein in Musk and his DOGE minions. 

The House took this approach, opposing the Republican spending bill nearly unanimously. (One member, Rep. Jared Golden from Maine, voted for it.) The vast majority of Democrats in the Senate shared this approach, as did the largest union representing federal government workers.

But Minority Leader Schumer and nine of his colleagues sided with Republicans to allow the spending bill to advance and ultimately pass. In doing so, he gave up — for nothing — the only leverage Democrats had. 

Schumer Failed to Defend Against Musk-Trump

What Musk and Trump are doing is truly unprecedented. They are illegally dismantling key agencies and functions including environmental justice, climate, and food safety. And they assert that the President can ignore Congressional mandates. 

It’s critical that Democrats use every leverage point they have to thwart this agenda. Surrendering leverage on this spending bill — the only decision point that required Democratic votes — was inexcusable. 

Disturbingly, despite knowing for months this point was coming, it was apparent that there was no foresight, no planning for how to message or execute a strategy around this critical moment. 

In the face of Musk and Trump’s extreme actions, we can’t afford for the opposition party to be inept, weak, and docile. Now is not the time for half measures — now is a time for bold leadership. 

In his complete bungling of this vote, Schumer has shown himself an insufficient leader for this moment. He should step down as Minority Leader immediately and allow someone who is willing to really fight for our food, water, climate, and democracy to step up.

The Path Forward for the Democratic Leadership We Need

What would such leadership look like and do? How can Democrats, independents, and well-meaning Republicans block Musk and Trump’s actions? 

The Musk-Trump agenda of slashing key safety net programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, food assistance, and funding for clean water is deeply unpopular. Democrats must capitalize on this, rally the country against these cuts, and, equally importantly, lay out a progressive vision for what government can and should be doing.

Here are things a leader could do:

1. Hold daily briefings highlighting a key message of the day. 

Deploy other members through the media and hammer on those messages. Messages should focus on how Musk and Trump’s actions are hurting people in ways they care about — food, water, health, and other pocketbook issues.

2. Tell a clear story about what is happening. 

Trump tells a clear story about why people are suffering. He scapegoats immigrants, trans people, and others to explain people’s falling living conditions. This is disgusting and wrong, but Democrats have not presented an alternate and true explanation that identifies the root causes. 

We know the truth: billionaires and large corporations are exploiting consumers and workers in order to maximize profits, resulting in people earning less and paying more for everyday needs. Democrats must tell this truth in a clear and compelling narrative.

3. Organize in congressional districts across the country.

Republicans are avoiding town halls with their constituents because of backlash against their unpopular plans to eliminate or slash key programs. Senator Bernie Sanders and Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ro Khanna are holding rallies and town halls in districts already. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has said he will do this too. Democratic Senate and House leadership must make this a priority.

4. Engage in alternative media in addition to traditional media. 

A recent study shows what has been apparent for years — the right has built out a robust alternative media space. Progressive voices pale in comparison in terms of reach and scope. Democratic elected officials and party leadership have not supported or engaged in this critical communications landscape in the same way that Republicans have. 

To amplify their messages and rally opposition to block what Musk and Trump are doing, Democratic leadership must prioritize engaging with and developing these platforms. It can’t just be a party that communicates on MSNBC and CNN.

We Must Come Together to Defend Our Democracy

This all isn’t going to just happen. It’s going to take all of us organizing and coming together. You can join us in leading the charge to build a stronger opposition.

Ahead of the Senate’s vote on the spending bill, Food & Water Watch led a letter signed by nearly 150 organizations calling on Senate leadership to reject it. Now, we’re joining progressive organizations to call on Senator Schumer to step down and make room for someone willing to defend families, workers, our planet, and our democracy.

In the coming weeks, we’ll continue fighting the second spending bill, the reconciliation bill, moving through Congress. This bill would double down on the Musk-Trump agenda, including $4 trillion in tax giveaways to corporations and the ultra-wealthy and more cuts for everyday people. And it only requires a simple majority in the House and Senate to pass. 

While we pressure Democrats to step up, we’re also targeting key Republicans to oppose this reconciliation bill. Their slim majority means that to block it, we just need a few Republican representatives to stand up for their constituents and vote against it. By driving a flood of calls, texts, rallies, and other actions in strategic districts, we’re working to shut down this reconciliation bill.

Senator Schumer’s terrible choice has put us all in greater danger of Musk-Trump’s excesses, and he must step down. But the fight is far from over — we will have many more opportunities to protect our communities and our democracy. Critical to that fight is Democratic leadership that rallies the country together with strong messaging and acts boldly and strategically against Musk-Trump.