The leading Democrats in the House are ramping up the pressure on Senate Democrats to oppose the GOP’s spending bill, warning that the proposal would slash crucial public services to vulnerable populations across the country. 

Huddled at their annual strategy retreat in Leesburg, Va., the leaders implored their Senate counterparts to use their filibuster power to sink the bill when it comes up for a vote later this week. 

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said the lobbying is happening not only through the press. House Democrats are also in direct talks with Senate Democrats ahead of the vote in the upper chamber, he said. 

The pressure campaign comes as Senate Democrats appear to be ready to provide enough votes to shepherd the Republicans’ partisan bill through the upper chamber, if only out of fear that President Trump and Elon Musk might exploit a shutdown to advance their efforts to gut the federal government. 

Support from Senate Democrats would not only send the bill to Trump’s desk, it would also undermine the Democrats’ message that the proposal is toxic to working-class families. 

Jeffries emphasized that opposing the GOP bill would not guarantee a shutdown, since Democrats in both chambers have teed up a third option: A 30-day CR designed to allow bipartisan negotiators more time to seal a deal on a 2025 spending package.

Democratic leaders amp up pressure on Senate colleagues to oppose GOP spending bill: ‘Stand with us’