Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is facing criticism for recently claiming that the ongoing government shutdown is actually good for Democrats. 

Among those leading the criticism of Schumer, according to the New York Post, is Vice President JD Vance.

Before we get to that, though, we'll catch you up to speed on the shutdown situation, and we'll show you exactly what Schumer said that has led to so much controversy.

Better for Schumer. Worse for Americans.

What a vile sentiment from an alleged leader in our country. https://t.co/P9bpss06s1

— JD Vance (@JDVance) October 9, 2025

The shutdown continues

At the time of this writing, the government shutdown is still in effect and there is no sign that this is going to change anytime soon.

The Hill reported on Thursday:

The Senate on Thursday voted for a seventh time to block a House-passed bill to reopen the federal government, as only three members of the Democratic caucus joined Republicans in voting to resolve the impasse. The House Republican-drafted measure to fund the government through Nov. 21, a “clean” continuing resolution that would keep funding at its current level, failed to advance on a procedural vote, 54-45. It needed 60 votes to advance.

Republicans and Democrats in Congress are both trying to claim that the other side is to blame for the continuation of the shutdown.

Schumer, though, was not content with merely playing the blame game. Instead, he took things a bit further by trying to argue that the shutdown is actually good for the Democrats.

Punchbowl News reported Schumer as stating, "Every day gets better for us."

"What a vile sentiment"

Schumer's remark has garnered a rebuke from Vice President Vance, among others.

Vance replied, "Better for Schumer. Worse for Americans. What a vile sentiment from an alleged leader in our country."

Other Republican leaders have joined in the criticism, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).

Thune said:

Democrats couldn’t care less whether military families miss a paycheck tomorrow. In an interview posted this morning, the Democratic leader said, ‘Every day gets better for us'. This isn’t a political game. Democrats might feel that way, but I don’t know of anybody else that does. The longer this goes on, the more the American people realize that Democrats own this shutdown.

It remains to be seen how this is all going to play out. President Donald Trump, for his part, appears to be allowing congressional leaders to work this out among themselves.