In a critical vote on Friday, the Senate narrowly passed a Republican-driven spending bill, just hours before a potential government shutdown. The vote, at 54-46, highlighted the stark division between parties as Democrats expressed strong disapproval of the bill. President Donald Trump was expected to sign the legislation into law.
The Democratic opposition stemmed from concerns that the bill would facilitate the Trump administration’s agenda, particularly through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to terminate federal employees and reduce governmental functions. Democrats protested that their concerns over healthcare, housing, and other priorities were ignored in the bill’s drafting. However, many Democrats conceded that a government shutdown would pose an even greater risk and thus chose to support the strategy proposed by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.
Schumer emphasized that a government shutdown would only hasten the administration’s efforts to dismantle essential services, making it imperative to pass the bill. Democrats were at a crossroads: approve a bill granting significant spending power to Trump, or refuse and let the government funding lapse. Ultimately, 10 Democrats broke ranks to pass the bill, and despite one Republican opposing it, the resolution ensures government funding for six more months.
In the days leading up to the vote, Schumer allowed discussions but ultimately decided against a shutdown, leading to frustration among Democrats eager to oppose Trump’s agenda. While numerous efforts were made to pressure other senators to reject the bill through letters, social media, and press briefings, the push was unsuccessful. Prominent Democratic figures like House leader Hakeem Jeffries and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi expressed strong opposition, urging for a more balanced compromise.
Some Democrats argued that, as Republicans controlled both legislative houses and the presidency, they should bear the responsibility if a shutdown occurred. Yet Schumer received unexpected support from Trump himself, who praised Schumer’s decision on social media, despite having previously prepared to blame Democrats for any shutdown. With regular appropriations bills stymied, Congress has had to resort to temporary funding extensions. This current resolution is the third such extension in the present fiscal year.
The legislation will maintain government funding until the end of September, trimming non-defense spending by $13 billion while slightly increasing defense spending by $6 billion. Despite Democratic resistance, GOP leaders pushed the idea that Democrats would shoulder the blame for any shutdown, emphasizing party unity in moving the resolution forward. Some House Democrats criticized their Senate counterparts, accusing them of failing to resist the administration’s plans adequately.
Schumer defended the decision by stressing the risk of Trump gaining autocratic control during a shutdown, with the potential to declare entire agencies non-essential and furlough employees permanently. Criticism was also directed at the bill’s allocations, which some Democrats labeled as tantamount to handing Trump a “blank check.” They expressed concerns that Trump could redirect funds, such as those meant to combat fentanyl, to initiatives such as mass deportations.
Among various amendments proposed for the bill, only a few attracted bipartisan support, such as one aiming to eliminate funding for DOGE backed by Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Additionally, the Senate unanimously passed a correction to the package, addressing an error that would have slashed $1.1 billion from the District of Columbia’s budget. This correction now awaits approval in the House and, if ratified, would maintain funding at current levels for 2025.