Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, continues to draw outrage after voting to allow a Republican continuing resolution (CR) funding bill to move forward on Friday, with thousands signing a Democrat petition attempting to force the leader to step down.Newsweek reached out to Charlotte Clymer, who launched the petition, and Schumer’s office via email for comment Saturday.Why It MattersSchumer’s support for moving forward with a stopgap funding bill on Friday has drawn widespread Democratic criticism, including from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California.The top Senate Democrat’s support for the bill moving forward, in which he was joined by nine other members of the chamber’s Democratic Caucus, prevented a government shutdown, but was seen by many in his party as a betrayal. Democrats saw the pending shutdown as a point of leverage against President Donald Trump and Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress.What to KnowCharlotte Clymer, a Democratic operative, launched a Change.org petition this week after Schumer signaled that he’d support moving the funding bill forward. Those who sign the petition are vowing to refuse any donations to official Democratic groups until Schumer steps down as Senate minority leader.”We, the undersigned, completely reject Mr. Schumer’s approach of appeasement in response to the deeply irresponsible, dangerous, and cruel attacks by Trump and Elon Musk on the American people,” the petition reads.It continues: “Until Senate Democrats force Mr. Schumer to step down as Minority Leader, we will not give a dime to any Senate Democrat, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic National Committee, or any other organization or committee that financially supports any Senate Democrat. Enough is enough. We need new leadership to meet this grave moment, and we need it now.”As of Saturday afternoon, the petition has 15,690 signatures.Clymer said anger at Schumer appears to be unifying Democrats.”I have not seen such uniting anger across the party in a long, long time,” she said, according to Politico. “Sen. Schumer has managed to unite us far more than Trump has in recent months.”Further demonstrating the level of fury at the Senate minority leader, the progressive political action committee Justice Democrats, sent out a text message that read: “F*** Chuck Schumer,” Politico reported.In a Brooklyn community Facebook group, for a neighborhood near Schumer’s home in the borough, some angry New Yorkers posted their frustration.”Hey did you know Chuck Schumer lives in our neighborhood? Well, nearby,” one wrote in a Friday post seen by Newsweek. The poster went on to share the address for Schumer’s building. “So if you’re out walking your dog in the park, you know where to drop off the poop bags.”The New York Democrat said Friday that his support would prevent worse damage to the federal government from Trump and billionaire Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) adviser Musk. Schumer said that a shutdown would allow them to ramp up their efforts to make cuts across federal agencies.”For sure, the Republican bill is a terrible option. It is deeply partisan. It doesn’t address this country’s needs. But even if the White House says differently, Mr. Trump and Elon Musk want a shutdown. We should not give them one. The risk of allowing the president to take even more power via a government shutdown is a much worse path,” he wrote in a Friday opinion essay for The New York Times.DOGE, under Musk’s guidance, has been attempting to make widespread cuts across the government. Thousands of federal employees have faced layoffs, while many of the Trump administration’s efforts have faced legal challenges.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, leaves the Democratic caucus lunch at the U.S. Capitol on March 13 in Washington, D.C.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, leaves the Democratic caucus lunch at the U.S. Capitol on March 13 in Washington, D.C.
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
What People Are SayingSenator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday: “My YES vote is *not* an endorsement of this deeply flawed CR. My YES vote is [100 percent emoji] about refusing to shut our government down. I refuse to punish working families and plunge millions of Americans into chaos. I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever vote to shut our government down.”Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, on X on Friday: “When the Senate Minority Leader sells you out, the only option is to take back the party & country with grassroots activists in blue and red disricts [sic] to stand up for the Constitution and our democracy. The problem with Schumer’s action — like Lucy pulling the ball away every time before Charlie Brown kicks it — is it makes all Congressional Dems look feckless & undermines trust.”President Donald Trump on Truth Social on Friday: “Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing—Took ‘guts’ and courage! The big Tax Cuts, L.A. fire fix, Debt Ceiling Bill, and so much more, is coming. We should all work together on that very dangerous situation. A non pass would be a Country destroyer, approval will lead us to new heights. Again, really good and smart move by Senator Schumer.”What Happens Next?Trump signed the CR on Saturday morning.Schumer has thus far shrugged off the criticism, and whether he is pressured by colleagues to step aside remains to be seen. Some close allies have publicly defended him, while others have been silent or critical.Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, is being urged by many in the party to primary Schumer when he is up for reelection. However, that will not be until 2028.
