Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, flanked by Vice President JD Vance and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, called on Senate Democrats to immediately end the ongoing government that is on pace to become the longest in Republican history.
House Republicans last month passed a “clean” temporary funding measure, knowing as a continuing resolution (CR), that would extend fiscal year (FY) 2025 through late November and give lawmakers additional time to negotiate a comprehensive package for FY 2026. Senate Democrats, with the exception of three lawmakers, have repeatedly voted against the clean bill in order to hold out for legislative wishlist items like an extension of Obama-era Affordable Care Act (ACA) credits.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has openly admitted that Democrats are attempting to extend the shutdown as long as possible in order to gain political capital, particularly by blaming Republicans for side effects like the looming SNAP crisis. O’Brien rejected this framing, however, and explicitly called on Schumer to vote for the House-passed CR while speaking at the White House.
Look, the bottom line, and we took a position, I represent 1 .3 million working men and women in this country for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. We took a position three weeks ago. Pass a clean CR, get to the table, negotiate a deal,” he said.
“Do not put working people in the middle of a problem. They should not be in there. And we’ve got to think about the families that are going to be affected. Think about when you have to tell your son or daughter they can’t play sports because you’re not getting paid. Think about when you can’t pay your mortgage. Think about when you can’t pay your tuition. Put the politics aside, get to the table, negotiate a deal, pass a clean CR right now, and then figure out the problems moving forward.”
He went on to thank air traffic controllers, thousands of whom have been working without pay throughout the shutdown. “I want to thank the Aviation Administration for all their hard work and sacrifice they make. And look, security and safety of the airlines is paramount. Let’s not compromise the safety and security. Pass a clean CR.”
The longest shutdown in U.S. history lasted 35 days, spanning between December 2018 and January of the following year. The second-longest — until the current dispute — was a 21-day shutdown under former President Bill Clinton between December 1995 and January 1996.
The political establishment in Washington was rocked this week after Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania broke with his party to defend President Donald Trump’s military strike on a suspected Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessel.The move not only deepened fault lines within the Democratic Party but also delivered a symbolic blow to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has been among the most vocal critics of Trump’s foreign and domestic policy decisions.
The controversy began when U.S. forces operating under Trump’s orders carried out what the Pentagon described as a “kinetic strike” against a boat linked to the Tren de Aragua gang.The group, a Venezuelan-based organization that has been formally designated a foreign terrorist entity by the U.S. government, has been accused of drug trafficking, human smuggling, and violent crimes across Latin America.Eleven members of the gang were reportedly killed in the operation, which the administration framed as a counterterrorism strike. While the White House hailed the move as a decisive step in the fight against narcoterrorism, critics raised questions about its legality and precedent.The New York Times reported that the strike lacked clear legal precedent, arguing it blurred the line between military action and law enforcement operations.Legal scholars pointed out that drug smuggling, even when tied to terrorism, has historically been treated as a criminal justice matter rather than a target for lethal force.
Legal scholars pointed out that drug smuggling, even when tied to terrorism, has historically been treated as a criminal justice matter rather than a target for lethal force. Despite the controversy, Fetterman voiced unequivocal support for Trump’s decision. Writing on X, he said:“Overdosing takes 100,000+ American lives every year. Cartels wage this war against our nation everyday. Maybe it’s time for our nation to push back and hold the cartels fully accountable.”
His remarks stood in sharp contrast to many in his party, who have long opposed Trump’s tough-on-crime and hardline immigration policies. By siding with Trump, Fetterman not only elevated the political debate but also forced Democrats to reckon with growing divisions over how to respond to the drug crisis.Schumer and other Democratic leaders sharply criticized the strike, arguing it represented an overreach of executive power and a dangerous precedent for future presidents. They maintained that while drug cartels pose serious challenges, military action should not substitute for coordinated international law enforcement.Schumer warned that Trump’s approach risked escalating tensions with Venezuela, particularly after reports that two Venezuelan fighter planes shadowed a U.S. Navy destroyer operating in international waters.
The Pentagon described the flights as “highly provocative,” while Trump himself issued a stark warning that Venezuelan aircraft could be shot down if they put U.S. forces in a “dangerous position.”The administration’s defenders countered that decisive action was necessary to deter criminal organizations and foreign regimes that shelter them. For Trump’s base, the message was clear: the president is taking concrete action to defend American lives.The episode highlighted a broader debate that has been simmering in Washington for years. Conservatives, including Trump allies, argue that cartels should be treated as terrorist organizations and confronted militarily.Liberals tend to favor law enforcement solutions, multilateral cooperation, and investments in prevention.
Liberals tend to favor law enforcement solutions, multilateral cooperation, and investments in prevention.By siding with Trump, Fetterman signaled a willingness to break from traditional Democratic orthodoxy. His stance reflects a political calculation that drug overdoses and fentanyl smuggling are pressing enough issues to justify extraordinary measures.
It also positioned him as a voice for working-class communities ravaged by addiction — a constituency Trump has often targeted with his own rhetoric.The strike on the Venezuelan-linked vessel was not an isolated event. In recent months, the Trump administration has ramped up its military presence in the southern Caribbean, deploying Navy destroyers, surveillance aircraft, and Marines to support counter-narcotics operations.The Pentagon confirmed that the recent strike was part of a broader campaign against the Tren de Aragua gang and other narcoterrorist organizations. Trump himself celebrated the operation on Truth Social, writing:
“Earlier this morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility.”His language left little doubt that he views the cartels as enemies of the United States, comparable to terrorist groups in the Middle East.Still, the strike raises unresolved legal questions. Critics argue that Trump acted without explicit congressional authorization, bypassing traditional oversight of military operations.
Some legal experts warn that conflating drug trafficking with terrorism could create a slippery slope, enabling presidents to use military force against criminal actors without checks and balances.Others argue that Congress has been too slow to adapt existing laws to the reality of transnational cartels. Supporters of Trump’s move believe the legal framework must evolve to confront groups that operate like militarized organizations rather than traditional crime syndicates.
The political fallout is already evident. Democrats are scrambling to present a unified response, but divisions are growing. Some lawmakers, particularly from states hardest hit by fentanyl overdoses, privately admit that Trump’s strategy resonates with their constituents. Fetterman’s public support may embolden others to break ranks.With midterm elections looming in 2026, the issue of how to combat cartels is likely to become a defining campaign theme. Trump and his allies will argue that Democrats are weak on crime and unwilling to take bold action. Democrats, in turn, will accuse Trump of reckless militarization and disregard for international law.
Fetterman’s decision to support the president complicates that narrative. It demonstrates that even within the Democratic Party, there is no consensus on how to address the crisis. For Trump, the endorsement by a prominent Democrat provides a powerful talking point that his policies transcend partisan politics.The dismissal of San Francisco immigration judges, the expansion of military operations in the Caribbean, and the unprecedented strike on a Venezuelan-linked drug-smuggling vessel are all part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to redefine America’s approach to immigration and narcotics.Fetterman’s support for Trump’s strike highlights how deeply the fentanyl crisis has reshaped political alliances. At the same time, Schumer’s opposition underscores the ideological battles that continue to divide Washington.As the administration moves forward with its campaign against narcoterrorism, the stakes are rising not just for America’s legal system but for its political future. The coming months will reveal whether Trump’s strategy galvanizes bipartisan support or sparks a constitutional showdown over the limits of presidential power.