Here's why Congressional Democrats are furious over the shutdown deal

• Coming off an overall successful election last Tuesday, Democrats are once again divided.
• The shutdown deal did not extend health care subsidies — their one big ask behind the prolonged standoff.
• Many congressional Democrats have expressed frustration with the party's leadership, particularly with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — signaling that change may be coming.

Driving the news: Eight Senate Democrats, excluding Schumer, broke ranks to advance a deal that will fund the government until late January.

• The deal also reverses shutdown reductions in force (RIFs) and promises a vote on Affordable Care Act tax credits and funds several agencies.
• "After 40 long days, I'm hopeful that we can finally bring the shutdown to an end," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.).

Here's what to know:

What Democrats wanted (and didn't get)

Health care costs were the party's biggest sticking point in refusing to negotiate to reopen the government.

• The Democrats sought a one-year extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits that would help 22 million people — which didn't happen.
• Senate Dems said the shutdown would continue until the credits were added to the deal.

Yes, but: The Senate ultimately settled for nothing more than a promise of an ACA vote in December — something many Democrats insisted throughout the shutdown they would not settle for.

• It's already been criticized as a pipe dream, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) calling the promise a "meaningless gesture."

Zoom out: The Democrats were hoping to use the government shutdown for leverage against the Trump administration, fueled by grassroots pressure.

• Schumer was under heavy political pressure not to fold without securing the ACA extension, given his decision to support a Republican measure to keep the government open earlier in the year.
• Many Democrats suggested calling on the party to make the shutdown process as painful as possible for Republicans in order to get their ACA tax credits over the goal line and gain an advantage heading into next year's midterms.

What Democrats got

The agreement includes:

• An extension of government funding through Jan. 30
• Funding for food stamps through fiscal year 2026
• The reversal of Trump's federal worker layoffs during the shutdown through RIFs.

The turning point in the shutdown fight

Critics dinged Democrats for losing their leverage over Republicans and President Trump.

• The Trump administration had made the shutdown too hard to ignore — specifically through the Federal Aviation Administration canceling flights and freezing SNAP benefits for millions.

Trump, who had been on the sidelines for most of the shutdown fight, got involved late last week, calling on the Senate to stay in D.C. over the weekend to get a deal done, amping up the pressure.

• He also urged Republicans to nuke the filibuster, arguing it gave Democrats an advantage during the shutdown.

Democrats blinked, and the party lost any effectiveness or leverage in Washington, many Democrats told Axios.

• "People are furious," one House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Axios. "It's an awful deal and a total failure to use leverage for anything real."
• "While Trump and Republicans inflict pain on people, Democrats' most important job is to fight back," Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote on X. "This deal is a mistake."

Context: Many polls showed Americans blamed Republicans and Trump for the shutdown.

Democrats furious with leadership

Many House Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), oppose the Senate's deal. The Republicans hold a slim margin in the House, which means Democratic opposition could complicate the deal's path to passage.

• Schumer, who voted against the deal, has become a top target of many House Democrats, Axios' Andrew Solender writes.

Flashback: House Democrats have been furious with Schumer for months.

• Many lawmakers and the party's base felt that Schumer betrayed them in March by supporting a Republican measure that was almost entirely opposed.
• Many House Democrats, in the weeks preceding the shutdown, were concerned that Schumer and the Senate would support funding the government and ultimately fold to Republican asks.
• At the time, one House Democrat told Axios: "The overriding concern was that Senate Democrats will get cold feet. Schumer can't sh*t the bed."

What's next: Beyond the ire for Schumer, dozens of Democrats running for U.S. House seats appear unlikely to support Jeffries (D-N.Y.) as party leader.

Go deeper:

Which Senate Democrats voted to end the shutdown?

"It's complete BS": Dems go ballistic over Senate shutdown deal

Democrats fold on biggest government shutdown demand

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional context.