Top Democrat Leaves Key Leverage Play Out of List of Strategies to Counter Trump's Agenda

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has outlined the four main ways in which the Democratic party in the Upper House will seek to fight the Donald Trump administration, none of them being a government shutdown.

In a letter called "Dear Colleague" sent to caucus members on Monday, Schumer detailed that investigations, litigation, legislation and party messaging will be the way to go in the future, according to POLITICO.

Addressing the shutdown issue directly, Schumer rejected talks about Democrats potentially tanking spending bills, saying the party wants to avoid a "Trump shutdown." The statement comes after Republicans accused their Democratic counterparts of walking out on talks last weeks and quotes by some Democrats about not leaving a shutdown off the table.

One of them is New Jersey Senator Andy Kim, who said on Sunday he is open to working with fellow Democrats to deny Republicans the votes necessary to keep the government open ahead of a key deadline next month if the Trump administration continues targeting federal agencies and programs.

"In a few weeks, the Republicans are going to try to figure out how they move forward, and they have, for the last two years, needed Democratic votes for every single continuing resolution, and they should not count on that this time," Kim told NBC News.

However, Schumer said in his letter that "Democrats stand ready to support legislation that will prevent a government shutdown."

"Of course, legislation in the Senate requires 60 votes and Senate Democrats will use our votes to help steady the ship for the American people in these turbulent times. It is incumbent on responsible Republicans to get serious and work in a bipartisan fashion to avoid a Trump Shutdown," Schumer added.

Republicans will need at least seven votes from Democrats to get a funding bill through the Upper House. House Speaker Mike Johnson could be able to pass the bill with just Republican votes, but he has had to consistently reach deals with Democrats given infighting among GOP lawmakers.