House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued a key demand Monday as a March 14 government funding deadline approaches, saying President Donald Trump’s recent federal spending freeze “must be choked off” as part of any bipartisan deal to keep the government open, “if not sooner.”
The ultimatum, detailed in a letter to House Democrats, is a signal that Jeffries will use Democrats’ leverage in the narrowly divided House to push back on the Trump administration. Historically, Republicans have found it difficult to stick together on government funding bills, with the Senate filibuster giving Democrats additional clout.
Democrats rallied last week against a since-paused Trump-administration memo freezing federal grants, prompting widespread confusion about its scope and effects. Jeffries’ letter to his colleagues also laid out his party’s plans to “push back against the far-right extremism that is being relentlessly unleashed on the American people.”
House Democrats also plan to introduce legislation blocking “unlawful access” to the Treasury Department payment system that billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk and his allies recently gained access to as part of their “Department of Government Efficiency” initiative.
The caucus’ messaging arm is also set to highlight GOP policies that would increase the cost of living including the sweeping tariffs rolled out by the Trump administration over the weekend.
In other efforts, Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) is planning a caucus meeting with outside experts on how to “enhanc[e] our ability to unpack and expose a recently uncovered Republican scheme to Rip Off the American taxpayer,” while the No. 3 Democrat, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), is set to convene House Democrats’ immigration working group as the party searches for a response to GOP-led crackdown on migrants and the border.
Jeffries also urged Democrats to hold outreach in their districts today or this week to “discuss the challenges we are decisively addressing on their behalf.” He said that he will be holding a telephone town hall later Monday and will be tracking caucus participation.
