Senate Majority Leader John Thune issued a warning this week that Congress could be heading toward another partial government shutdown this fall, citing what he described as intensifying pressure from the Democratic Party’s most progressive faction.

Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, suggested that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is feeling the political strain from left-leaning activists in his home state and across the country. During an interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, Thune said he believes the coming votes in Congress will reveal just how close the government may be to another funding standoff.

“I think Senator Schumer believes this situation benefits the far-left wing of the Democratic Party,” Thune said. “You can see the pressure coming down on him from New York politics and from national progressive groups.”

Much of that pressure dates back to March, when Schumer faced intense criticism from liberals for refusing to block a Republican budget measure meant to prevent a shutdown. The backlash was swift and severe. Progressive activists accused Schumer of failing to stand up to President Donald Trump, and the uproar grew so loud that the senator had to postpone parts of his book tour to manage the fallout.

With Democrats holding the minority in both chambers of Congress, shutdowns remain one of the few moments when they hold any negotiating leverage with the Trump administration. To avoid that scenario, lawmakers must either pass all 12 annual appropriations bills or approve a continuing resolution to temporarily keep the government funded. Both methods require at least 60 votes in the Senate, far above the 53 seats Republicans currently control. That gives Democrats substantial influence over any spending deal.

At present, Congress is operating under a continuing resolution that funds the government only into the autumn. Thune said this creates an environment where political friction could easily escalate.

“This is a party struggling to define itself,” Thune said of the Democrats. “They are completely out of alignment with the mainstream of the country. We’re waiting to see what Senator Schumer and his leadership team decide to do.”

The shutdown threat escalated earlier this month when Schumer accused Republicans of undermining the appropriations process. His criticism came in response to GOP efforts to pursue a rescissions package—legislation that would retract previously approved funding without Democratic consent.

Schumer argued that this tactic weakens any bipartisan compromise. “We’re doing everything possible to keep the appropriations process functioning,” he said. “And they’re trying to undermine it with rescissions, pocket rescissions, impoundments—every mechanism they can think of.”

In Schumer’s view, Republicans have shown a pattern of walking back negotiated agreements through presidential impoundments, in which Trump simply declines to spend money allocated by law. That, he said, erodes trust and makes bipartisan agreements increasingly difficult.

At the same time, GOP leaders—especially in the House—have been battling internal resistance from fiscal conservatives who want deeper spending cuts. These lawmakers have pushed hard against continuing resolutions and against long-term appropriations bills unless they include sharp reductions, proposals that Democrats strongly oppose.

But Schumer also has his own internal struggles. The Democratic Party’s progressive wing continues to grow more influential, and Schumer has been forced to navigate the shifting political landscape in his home state. Just last month, that dynamic became clear when Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral primary—an upset that stunned the party establishment.

Schumer faces reelection in 2028 and has not yet said whether he will run again. Progressive figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are rumored to be potential challengers, heightening pressure on the Senate leader to appease the party’s left flank.

Despite these tensions, Thune expressed hope that funding negotiations can ultimately be resolved. “Keeping the government funded is good for the country,” he said. “And I hope we can find bipartisan support to make that happen.”

Still, he cautioned that if recent history is any indication, Democrats may once again push toward a shutdown to satisfy progressive demands. “They are under tremendous pressure from the far left to shut the government down,” Thune warned.

The most recent major shutdown—lasting 35 days between late 2018 and early 2019—occurred after a standoff between Trump and Democrats over funding for the border wall. With the next fiscal year approaching on October 1, lawmakers now face the possibility of repeating that political battle once again.