Congressional Republican good intentions have foundered time and again on the shoals of government shutdowns. When Republicans control Congress and Democrats have the White House, they rush to meet White House demands to avoid being blamed for a government shutdown. And when Republicans control everything, Democrats still threaten a government shutdown, except Republicans to back down.

Some Congressional Democrats say they are open to shutting down the federal government in March over the Trump administration’s moves to dismantle government programs and agencies.

Federal government funding expires on March 14. To avoid a painful shutdown, Congress will need to pass legislation designating new spending level or extend current ones.

But when government funding expires in five weeks, Republicans will control the House only 217-215. That means Republicans will need total unanimity to pass a bill in the chamber.

And Republicans control the Senate 53-47 – which is not a wide enough margin to overcome the 60-vote threshold needed to bypass the filibuster, meaning Republicans will need Democrats to avoid a shutdown.

Kim is one of several Democrats to indicate a willingness to let the government shut down if Republicans can’t reassure them that their spending directives will actually be implemented.

Democrats are arguing that the onus would be on Republicans if a shutdown does happen, because they hold the majority in both chambers.

“They’re in charge, they have to work with us,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told Semafor.

Is that what being ‘in charge’ means? How did Schumer work with Republicans when he had the majority?

This game of chicken however may no longer be as effective as Democrats think. The start of Trump’s first term has signaled that the rules have changed. And that Republicans are willing to think out of the box.

The threat of a government shutdown is no longer as scary as it used to be and while Congressional Republicans, especially in the House, remain dysfunctional, the Trump administration is currently calling the shots. And a ;government shutdown’ may play into its hands.