Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has sharply criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., after he announced his intention to support the House-passed funding measure aimed at preventing a government shutdown. In a recent interview on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” Ocasio-Cortez accused Schumer of surrendering to Republicans and aligning with the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), which she believes represents billionaire Elon Musk’s influence over federal policies.
Ocasio-Cortez expressed her strong disapproval of Schumer’s decision, calling it a “tremendous mistake” that could have severe long-term consequences for American citizens. Schumer, despite acknowledging that the short-term spending bill—known as a continuing resolution (CR)—was far from ideal, stated that the risks of a government shutdown were too great. He argued that keeping the government open was of paramount importance.
This division within the Democratic Party has sparked considerable debate, with some lawmakers such as Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., vowing to oppose the CR. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., also voiced her concerns in an MSNBC column, claiming that the bill would essentially benefit billionaires like Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump by allowing more tax breaks at the expense of middle-class Americans, veterans, seniors, and small businesses.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., however, sided with Schumer in prioritizing government continuity over ideological purity. He argued that no party should ever let the government shut down, even if the CR was not a perfect solution.
Ocasio-Cortez, however, remains particularly worried about the CR’s potential to empower Musk further, describing it as an endorsement of the billionaire’s agenda to slash government spending and fire federal workers. She pointed out that Americans—regardless of political affiliation—have been alarmed by Musk’s increasing influence over federal agencies.
In her view, the CR could cement these changes, stripping away congressional oversight and effectively turning the government into a “slush fund” for wealthy interests like Trump and Musk. Ocasio-Cortez also stressed that the resolution undermines crucial protections for programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. She criticized Senate Democrats for potentially handing away their leverage, accusing them of failing to stand up for the working class and essential social programs.