Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) on Sunday reportedly called for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to be removed from his post after eight members of the Democratic caucus broke ranks to advance a bipartisan deal to end the government shutdown against Schumer’s wishes.
The vote, which passed the Senate 60–40, marked the first major fracture in Democratic unity after more than a month of holding firm during the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The agreement would fund most federal agencies through January, while promising Democrats a later vote on renewing Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at year’s end.
Schumer opposed the deal, declaring on the Senate floor that he “must vote no” because “this healthcare crisis is so severe.” But Khanna sharply rebuked him, arguing that the Minority Leader’s failure to secure healthcare funding showed weakness. “Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced,” Khanna wrote on X. “If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?”
Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) November 10, 2025
The backlash reflected growing unrest within Democratic ranks. Progressive activists and commentators accused Schumer of losing control of his caucus and caving to Republican pressure. “If he can’t run the team, then someone else needs to,” wrote progressive outlet founder Ron Filipkowski, adding that Schumer “owns the process and end result.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also denounced the outcome, calling it “very, very bad” and warning that Democrats had surrendered leverage without guarantees.
While the Senate deal could reopen the government within days if the House follows suit, the episode underscored deep divisions inside the Democratic Party — between pragmatists eager to end the shutdown and progressives demanding a prolonged standoff to secure their priorities. For Republicans, the vote signaled a rare moment of unity and an opportunity to portray Democrats as fractured and uncertain under Schumer’s leadership.
[READ MORE: Democrats Block GOP Bill to Pay Federal Workers During Shutdown]
