Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has openly criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), urging Senate Democrats to oppose his approach to the ongoing government funding battle.

Pelosi’s public statement highlights a growing division within Democratic leadership as lawmakers work to prevent a government shutdown.

In a social media post Friday morning, Pelosi rejected the funding proposal Schumer has been considering, calling it a “false choice” between a shutdown and what she described as a harmful measure that would negatively impact working families.

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“I salute Leader Hakeem Jeffries for his courageous rejection of this false choice, and I am proud of my colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus for their overwhelming vote against this bill,” Pelosi wrote.

“Democratic senators should listen to the women.”

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Pelosi’s remarks specifically praised House Appropriations Committee ranking member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), both of whom have advocated for a four-week stopgap funding extension instead of the deal Schumer appeared to be negotiating with Senate Republicans.

The public rebuke places additional pressure on Schumer, who has struggled to balance demands from both his party and Republican lawmakers.

Earlier in the week, Schumer suggested Senate Democrats would block the House-passed continuing resolution (CR), which funds the government through September.

However, by Thursday, reports indicated that Democrats were considering a deal that would allow Republicans to secure enough votes in exchange for a failed vote on a separate 30-day funding extension.

Schumer’s shifting position has fueled internal tensions, with some Senate Democrats pushing for a more aggressive stance while others express concern about the political fallout of a government shutdown.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) added to Schumer’s challenges on Friday morning when he declined to support the Senate leader’s handling of the negotiations.

When asked whether Senate Democrats needed “new leadership,” Jeffries sidestepped the question, responding only with, “Next question.”

His response has fueled speculation about Schumer’s influence within the party, as frustration grows among both progressive and moderate Democrats who view his approach as ineffective.

Pelosi’s decision to publicly distance herself from Schumer is notable, given their history of working closely together.

Her statement signals a widening gap within Democratic leadership, particularly as the funding deadline approaches.

Meanwhile, the Senate is moving toward passing the Republican-led stopgap bill in an effort to prevent a shutdown.

While Democrats have voiced concerns over spending cuts, they are largely backing the measure to keep the government operational while broader budget negotiations continue.

The bill maintains federal spending at approximately $6.75 trillion but includes roughly $7 billion in cuts.