Challenges Faced by Chuck Schumer: Obstacles and Turning Points

Life is full of challenges, and Chuck Schumer faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Chuck Schumer is the senior United States Senator from New York, serving since 1999. A Democrat, he has led the Senate Democratic Caucus since 2017, serving as Senate Majority Leader from 2021 to 2025. He has also served as Senate Minority Leader. Schumer became New York's senior senator in 2001 and is currently the longest-serving U.S. Senator from New York, having been elected to a fifth term in 2022. He is the dean of New York's congressional delegation.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1982: Potential Matchup

In 1982, Schumer prepared for a potential matchup with Solarz due to redistricting, and sought financial support from Wall Street.

November 2001: Announcing hearings on military tribunals for terrorists

In November 2001, Schumer announced hearings on George W. Bush's decision to try terrorists in military tribunals. The hearing's two goals were to ascertain whether Bush had the power to form a tribunal apart from an attempt at interacting with Congress and whether a military tribunal was the most efficient instrument.

January 2004: Schumer intends to prevent Pickering confirmation

In January 2004, after President Bush renominated Charles Pickering to the federal appeals court, Chuck Schumer stated his intent to prevent Pickering's confirmation, saying the US could do better.

March 2004: Urging Bush to protect whistleblower Richard Foster

In March 2004, Chuck Schumer and several other senators signed a letter to President Bush, urging him to protect whistleblower Richard Foster after he revealed that the White House was trying to hide higher cost estimates for the new Medicare prescription drug program from Congress.

October 2005: Schumer predicts Harriet Miers will not get a majority

In October 2005, Chuck Schumer stated that Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers "would not get a majority either in the Judiciary Committee or the floor." He also predicted that her confirmation hearings would generate either strong support or strong opposition, unlike any other recent nominee.

March 11, 2007: Called for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign

On March 11, 2007, Schumer became the first lawmaker in either chamber to publicly call for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign for firing eight United States attorneys. Schumer stated that Gonzales didn't understand that he was no longer just the president's lawyer on CBS News's Face the Nation.

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April 19, 2007: Demanded Resignation of Alberto Gonzales During Testimony

On April 19, 2007, during Alberto Gonzales's testimony, Schumer, angered by Gonzales's repeated claims of not knowing or recalling details about the controversy, demanded his resignation, saying further questioning was pointless given Gonzales's lack of knowledge regarding his department's operations.

2007: IndyMac's business strategy of originating and securitizing Alt-A loans

In 2007, IndyMac was forced to hold $10.7 billion of loans it could not sell in the secondary market because its business strategy of originating and securitizing Alt-A loans on a large scale.

June 2011: Seeking a crackdown on Bitcoin

In June 2011, Schumer and Senator Joe Manchin sought a crackdown on Bitcoin, saying it facilitated illegal drug trade transactions via anonymizing networks like Tor.

January 18, 2012: Demonstration against PROTECT IP Act

On January 18, 2012, the NY Tech Meetup and other cybertech organizations held a demonstration with 2,000 protesters in front of the offices of Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, who also supported the PROTECT IP Act, a bill that would restrict access to websites judged to be infringing copyrights.

March 2012: Called for Investigation of Employers Requesting Facebook Passwords

In March 2012, Chuck Schumer and Senator Richard Blumenthal requested Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice to investigate employers demanding Facebook passwords from employee applicants and workers.

June 2013: Senate passage of immigration reform bill

In June 2013, an immigration bill, written and sponsored by Schumer and a bipartisan group of senators, passed the Senate with a strong majority. However, the House of Representatives refused to take up the bill, and the legislation died.

March 2016: Schumer calls for hearings on Merrick Garland

In March 2016, Chuck Schumer urged Mitch McConnell and Chuck Grassley to hold hearings for Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, so that the American people could decide whether Garland belonged on the court.

November 2016: Schumer warns Trump on Supreme Court nominees

In November 2016, Chuck Schumer warned President-elect Trump that Democrats would challenge him if he did not nominate mainstream Supreme Court justices and that Republicans lacked "clean hands" due to their obstruction of Merrick Garland's nomination.

2016: Analysis of Democratic Party Loss

After the 2016 United States presidential election, Schumer stated that the Democratic Party lost due to not having "a strong, bold economic message", and called for reforms in the affordability of college and trade laws.

March 2017: Schumer opposes Gorsuch confirmation

In March 2017, at the end of Senate hearings for Trump's Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, Chuck Schumer announced that he would vote against his confirmation and called on Democrats to block an up-or-down vote on Gorsuch.

May 2017: Criticizing the American Health Care Act

In May 2017, Schumer criticized an amendment to the American Health Care Act, saying it "leaves Americans with pre-existing conditions as vulnerable as they were before under this bill" and compared it to "administering cough medicine to someone with stage 4 cancer".

November 2017: Schumer on net neutrality

In November 2017, Chuck Schumer stated that net neutrality helps build jobs in the 21st century. To take a step back hurts our economy, our job growth and middle-class and working people. It is a disaster.

January 2018: Schumer announces Democratic support for net neutrality resolution

In January 2018, Chuck Schumer announced that all 49 members of the Democratic caucus supported a resolution overturning the FCC vote on net neutrality. He urged congressional Republicans to show they were on the side of consumers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners, rather than big ISPs and major corporations.

January 2018: Negotiations on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

In January 2018, Schumer stated that any agreement on DACA before its March expiration would have to be included in the spending bill and offered Trump congressional approval of more than $20 billion for his border wall in exchange for protecting DACA recipients; however, Trump declined the offer.

June 2018: Schumer on Supreme Court becoming more political

In June 2018, Chuck Schumer voiced concerns that the Supreme Court was becoming more political, citing the court's ruling in favor of anti-abortion clinics in California. He criticized the court for aligning itself with the "hard right" by affirming a discriminatory travel ban, unleashing dark money in politics, and undermining the Voting Rights Act.

July 2018: Confronted Senator Mark Warner regarding Facebook Regulation

In July 2018, Schumer confronted Senator Mark Warner, urging him to focus on Facebook's handling of right-wing disinformation, election interference, consumer privacy, and other issues. As of 2018, one of Schumer's daughters worked as a marketing manager at Facebook.

July 2018: Schumer wants Kavanaugh questioned on Roe v. Wade

In July 2018, after Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to replace Anthony Kennedy, Chuck Schumer said Kavanaugh should be directly questioned about the precedent set by Roe v. Wade. Schumer also pointed out Kavanaugh's opinion on United States v. Nixon suggesting he might not hold Trump accountable as a justice.

2018: Schumer concerned about Roe v. Wade

In 2018, after Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy retired, Chuck Schumer voiced concern that Trump's choice of replacement would try to overturn Roe v. Wade.

March 2019: Schumer signs letter to Secretary of Agriculture

In March 2019, Chuck Schumer, along with 37 other senators, signed a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. They warned that dairy farmers were struggling with market instability and urged his department to encourage farmers to consider the Dairy Margin Coverage program.

February 2025: DOJ launching investigation into matter

In February 2025, interim U.S. Attorney for Washington D.C. Ed Martin announced the Department of Justice was launching an investigation into the matter.

March 12, 2025: Opposition to Continuing Resolution

On March 12, 2025, Schumer initially announced his opposition to the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) to fund the 2025 United States federal budget until September 30, 2025.