Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing Congress to a government shutdown because he is scared of being challenged in a primary by far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton theorized.

After Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reportedly left their meeting with President Donald Trump without a deal to avoid a government shutdown, Cotton blasted the New York senator in an exclusive statement to Breitbart News.

“Chuck Schumer is shutting down the government because he’s terrified of a primary from AOC. His actions are disgraceful,” Cotton said.

The Arkansas Republican was asked for his reaction to congressional Democrats’ refusal to agree on a short-term funding deal.

House Republicans were joined by a singular Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden, in passing a bill recently that would have kept the government funded until late November.

Senate Democrats blocked it from advancing.

Instead, they proposed their own funding bill demanding an additional $1.4 trillion for far-left projects.

These projects include free health care for illegal aliens and funding for NPR and PBS.

Republicans blocked the Democrats’ counteroffer from advancing in the Senate.

This leaves Congress to either come to an agreement or accept a government shutdown.

Cotton’s latest statement reflects a statement he made on the Hugh Hewitt Show earlier, where he said Schumer “fears” that Ocasio-Cortez will “primary him four years from now in 2028 if he doesn’t do the far-left bidding.”

Schumer “is going to own” the shutdown if it does occur, Rep. Dusty Johnson said on Breitbart News Daily.

“There is not a single partisan poison pill. There’s nothing that would trip anybody up,” Johnson said.

“We’re just going to hit pause for six weeks so that we can negotiate while the government is open rather than negotiate while the government is closed. Apparently, that is asking too much of Chuck Schumer,” Johnson added.

Cotton’s accusation reveals the ugly reality of Democratic politics in 2025.

Schumer’s fear of AOC shows how far left the Democratic Party has moved.

A sitting Senate leader now must appease the most radical wing of his party.

AOC has become powerful enough to threaten even longtime Democratic leaders.

Her influence over New York’s progressive voters gives her leverage over Schumer.

The Senate leader cannot risk angering the far-left base that might support her primary challenge.

This political calculation puts Schumer’s personal career ahead of governing responsibly.

Republicans offered a clean, straightforward funding extension with no controversial provisions.

The six-week pause would allow negotiations to continue while keeping government services running.

Schumer rejected this reasonable compromise to satisfy his radical base.

The $1.4 trillion in additional spending Democrats demanded shows their extremist priorities.

Free healthcare for illegal aliens represents a massive giveaway to those who broke immigration laws.

NPR and PBS funding reflects Democrats’ commitment to left-wing media propaganda outlets.

These demands have nothing to do with essential government operations.

They represent ideological wish lists that Democrats know Republicans cannot accept.

Schumer’s strategy appears designed to create a shutdown he can blame on Republicans.

But Cotton’s explanation reveals Schumer’s true motivation: political survival against AOC.

Only one House Democrat voted with Republicans on the clean funding bill.

This shows how unified Democrats are in their obstructionist strategy.

Jeffries and Schumer left their meeting with Trump without even attempting serious negotiations.

Their refusal to negotiate demonstrates bad faith from the start.

Johnson’s point about no “poison pills” in the Republican bill is crucial.

Republicans offered a straightforward solution that any reasonable party would accept.

Schumer’s rejection proves his priorities lie in far-left politics, not governance.

The 2028 primary timeline Cotton mentioned shows Schumer’s long-term political fears.

AOC has four years to build support for a challenge against Schumer.

That threat forces Schumer to continuously prove his progressive credentials to New York voters.

A government shutdown over reasonable funding proposals serves that political purpose.

Schumer can claim he fought Republicans rather than compromising with Trump.

This plays well with the radical base that might support AOC’s eventual primary challenge.

Cotton’s characterization of Schumer’s actions as “disgraceful” captures Republican frustration.

Americans will suffer the consequences of a shutdown Schumer created for personal political reasons.