Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York progressive Democrat, and former independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona traded barbs online over the filibuster after several Senate Democrats voted for a GOP-led continuing resolution (CR) to avert a government shutdown last night.
Newsweek has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s press team and reached out to Sinema via Arizona State University for comment via email on Saturday.
Why It Matters
The Senate filibuster has been a topic of debate over the past few years as it allows a minority of senators to stall or block legislation by prolonging debate indefinitely.
To end a filibuster, the Senate must invoke cloture, which requires 60 votes—rather than a simple majority—to advance the legislation to a final vote. Several Democrats joined Republicans in both voting to invoke cloture and to pass the CR on Friday.
Ocasio-Cortez, along with other progressives, have pushed to end the Senate filibuster. During former President Joe Biden’s tenure, she advocated for ending the rule over raising the federal minimum wage and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
This week, the congresswoman criticized some Senate Democrats for voting to invoke cloture, which ended the filibuster and paved the way for the legislation’s passage.
Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP ImagesFrancis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images
What To Know
Ocasio-Cortez has been outspoken against the nine Democrats and one independent who voted in support of the House GOP’s stopgap bill. On Friday evening, the Senate passed the continuing resolution by a 54-46 vote, and on Saturday President Donald Trump signed it.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, voted in support of the bill, arguing that averting a government shutdown was the more responsible action. He had opposed the bill until the day before the vote.
Earlier Saturday morning, Sinema, a former Democrat before becoming an independent, posted a screenshot of a May 2022 post on X, formerly Twitter, by Ocasio-Cortez, which called out Sinema over not eliminating the filibuster.
“We could protect Roe tomorrow, but Sinema refuses to act on the filibuster. Until that changes she can take a seat talking about ‘women’s access to health care,'” the post read. “Hold everyone contributing to this disaster accountable, GOP & Dem obstructionists included. She should be primaried.”
Sinema captioned the screenshot of the old post and wrote: “Change of heart on the filibuster, I see!”
A few hours later, Ocasio-Cortez retorted and wrote: “Still no. In fact, the same Dems who argue to keep the filibuster ‘for when we need it’ do not, in fact, use it when we need it. It’s only used to block Dem policies. Never to block harmful GOP ones. Could have proved us wrong. Instead they proved the point.”
Still no.
In fact, the same Dems who argue to keep the filibuster “for when we need it” do not, in fact, use it when we need it.
It’s only used to block Dem policies. Never to block harmful GOP ones.
Could have proved us wrong. Instead they proved the point. https://t.co/F0d3juPg5L
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 15, 2025
Sinema then responded, “Literally zero Senate Democrats support the filibuster.”
The clash follows Ocasio-Cortez’s outspoken criticism of Democratic senators, including Schumer, for supporting the bill—a stance echoed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat.
Some senators argue that the filibuster preserves bipartisanship, while others argue it obstructs major legislation.
What People Are Saying
Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat who voted for the bill, told The Hill on Friday about Ocasio-Cortez’s criticism: “I’m going to stand on what I happen to believe is the right thing to do but ask her, ‘What’s the exit plan once we shut the government down?’ What about all the millions of Americans who are going to have their lives damaged? What about the ones that won’t have any paycheck? She’ll have her paycheck, though.” He added “If we’re worried about Musk going to shut down the government or damage the government, we have the power to do the one thing that Trump and Musk can’t do, shut it down.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told CNN following the vote: “We always knew there would be disagreements, but I felt, and those who voted with me felt, that as bad as the CR was—and I know a lot of members didn’t like the CR—a government shutdown would be far worse.
“A government shutdown gives Donald Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE almost complete power as to what to close down, because they can decide what is an essential service. If they determine that SNAP kids shouldn’t get food is not essential, they can just cut it out summarily, they could fire half the workers in the federal government, it would have been a far worse consequence.”
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday ahead of the vote: “Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing — Took ‘guts’ and courage! The big Tax Cuts, L.A. fire fix, Debt Ceiling Bill, and so much more, is coming. We should all work together on that very dangerous situation. A non pass would be a Country destroyer, approval will lead us to new heights. Again, really good and smart move by Senator Schumer. This could lead to something big for the USA, a whole new direction and beginning!”
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday: “House Democrats will always fight back for a better way against Republican false choices. As Republicans turn their attention to their next scheme that funds tax breaks for billionaires by cutting Medicaid, House Democrats will do everything in our power to stop them.”
What Happens Next?
The bill will fund the government through September 30.
