Why Democrats Could Wield a Government Shutdown Threat Over Trump

A US political expert says Democrats may use the threat of a government shutdown as leverage against the Trump administration after their midterm win. He doubts they would let it go all the way, and he thinks Republicans may try to block the move with a stopgap spending bill.

Democrats could use the threat of a government shutdown to pressure Donald Trump’s Republican administration. That is the view of Rob Mellen, an associate professor of world studies at the University of South Florida. He says the party may try this after its midterm election win in Congress.

Democrats Eye a Government Shutdown as Leverage

Mellen believes a funding fight could give Democrats real bargaining power. He laid out how that might work.

“Democrats could hold back funding or bring the government close to a shutdown to win concessions from the administration (US President Donald Trump, ed.),” Mellen said.

Why a Full Shutdown May Not Happen

The expert does not expect Democrats to push things all the way. A shutdown means government offices stop working because Congress has not agreed on a budget. Democrats may fear being called hypocrites, since they opposed such tactics in the past.

“There is a possibility that Democrats could block funding for some agencies,” Mellen said.

Voters Could Remember in 2028

Mellen is convinced that a temporary closure of the government would carry a political price. He says voters would recall it when they choose a president in 2028. That memory could hurt Democrats at the ballot box.

Republicans May Use a Stopgap Spending Bill

The expert also sees a possible move by Republicans. They could try to pass a temporary spending law that keeps the government funded until Sept. 30, 2027. In that case, the new Congress with its Democratic members could take no major steps. Their window would open only when the next fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, 2027.

Background: The Longest Government Shutdown in US History

Congress is responsible for approving the federal budget. At the end of 2025, the country faced the longest government shutdown in its history. Federal offices and agencies stayed closed for 43 days, from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12. About 670,000 government employees stayed home on unpaid leave.