Even as Congress and the White House barrel toward a government shutdown, moderate lawmakers in the House and Senate are standing on the sidelines of the conflict, seemingly comfortable with their leaders’ positions even as a major political crisis unfolds.
These are just the sort of lawmakers who have the leverage to pressure party leaders on both sides to find a deal. But so far, the center-of-the-road legislators are staying mostly in line with party messaging.
Take Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), the most vulnerable Senate Democrat in 2026. Ossoff insisted Monday evening there’s still time to find a government funding deal, although he also backed up his party’s position.
“For the White House to get engaged at the 11th hour has not been helpful. It doesn’t bode well,” Ossoff said. “But we can still do what’s right for our constituents’ healthcare and keep the government open. The clock has not yet struck midnight.”
Rep. Tom Suozzi (N.Y.), top Democrat of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, said he’s sticking with Democratic leadership in this fight.
“The president, the Senate, the House, [Republicans] are all controlled by Republicans. They’re running the show,” Suozzi noted even as he lamented a possible shutdown. “They have an obligation to try to get us to vote for something.”
And Rep. Mike Lawler (N.Y.), of the few GOP moderates, blamed Democrats — especially Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — for a possible shutdown.
“Under Joe Biden’s presidency, Senate Republicans voted 13 times for a clean CR, ending the filibuster and funding the government. But today? When we offer the same thing, [Schumer] retreats,” Lawler tweeted. “It’s cowardice. There is no acceptable excuse to shut down the government.”
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) expressed confidence that Democrats’ fight for health care concessions gives them “a very strong upper hand.”
“This will resonate with people,” Gottheimer said. “All we’re asking for is to just take care of the premiums… This is very focused, and I think they realize that they’re not in the pole position on this one.”
Mod talks. Some factions of centrist lawmakers in both the Senate and House have been quietly discussing the policy cliff at the heart of the shutdown fight: the enhanced Obamacare subsidies.
Democrats are demanding an extension of the tax credits as part of any funding deal. GOP leaders have said they won’t include it in a short-term CR. But some Republicans are antsy about letting the subsidies lapse entirely and eager to do something by year’s end.
The bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, which has been discussing the issue, held a Zoom call Sunday night to talk about the subsidies and the looming shutdown deadline, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the meeting.
If many moderates stay comfortable with their party’s position, there’s less incentive to escalate the push. But a shutdown could get painful for these lawmakers in the days ahead. Then it becomes a question of which side’s moderates blink first.
The wobble. Senate Democrats did get a bit wobbly Monday. Schumer floated an off-ramp to the senators who paved the way for a March continuing resolution: A week-long funding bill to give negotiators more time to find a health care compromise.
Schumer quickly took the prospect off the table later on Monday, telling reporters he wouldn’t support a seven or 10-day CR. Moderates largely kept up their shutdown messaging, although some were interested in a stopgap funding bill.
“One possible exit would be a 10-day continuing resolution and then have some serious talks about, for example, the ACA subsidies,” Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) told us. “I think we could use a little more time.”
