Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., indicated Sunday that he is open to joining fellow Democrats in withholding votes needed to pass government funding if the administration continues to restructure key federal agencies and programs. With a crucial funding deadline approaching next month, Kim suggested Democrats could use their leverage to challenge these policy changes.
“In a few weeks, Republicans will have to determine how they move forward,” Kim said during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press. “They have relied on Democratic votes for every continuing resolution over the past two years, but they shouldn’t count on that this time.”
A continuing resolution (CR) is a temporary measure that extends government funding at previous levels until a formal budget agreement is reached.
Kim stated that he would consider blocking funding efforts if the administration continued downsizing agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of Education. He also emphasized that if Democrats take this stance and a government shutdown occurs, responsibility should fall on the GOP.
“They are the majority,” Kim said. “If they cannot govern effectively, that is something the American people need to see.”
Frustration has been growing among Democrats, with some urging party leaders to take stronger action against what they see as drastic executive branch overhauls. However, it remains uncertain whether forcing a government shutdown would be an effective strategy.
At a recent protest outside the Capitol, where Democratic lawmakers stood in solidarity with demonstrators, chants of “Do your job!” echoed through the crowd, reflecting mounting dissatisfaction with the administration’s policies.
Kim warned that the nation is “on the cusp of a constitutional crisis” and criticized what he described as illegal actions by the administration. He argued that Democrats should not cooperate in funding the government while it is being systematically weakened.
“They are actively dismantling government institutions,” Kim told Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker. “If we have to take action to hold them accountable and use the leverage we have, then I cannot support funding efforts that enable this lawlessness.”
Kim stressed that bipartisan cooperation on the budget should not be taken for granted. “If they expect our support while they continue to undermine government agencies, that’s not something we should allow.”
His remarks echo concerns raised by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, who recently noted the challenges of negotiating a budget while previously approved funding is being cut by the administration.
“Democrats and Republicans alike must be able to trust that when a deal is signed into law, it will be upheld,” Murray said in a statement last week.
