Democrats’ shutdown strategy hinges on a risky bet

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is surrounded by reporters as he leaves the Capitol for a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on September 29, 2025, to try and avoid a government shutdown. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The Trump administration will use a government shutdown to gut the Democratic Party’s favorite federal agencies.  Or at least, this is what the president wants Democrats to believe, as they negotiate over a bill to prevent federal funding from lapsing on October 1.  Last week, White House budget director Russell Vought instructed federa