Senate Approves Bill to Prevent Government Shutdown with Democratic Support
In a key vote, the Senate advanced a bill with a 62 to 38 vote, aiming to prevent a looming government shutdown. The Senate subsequently passed the House-approved funding bill with a 54 to 46 vote, ensuring the government remains operational past the Friday deadline. This decision saw some Democrats siding with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., despite opposition from within their ranks.
Independent Senator Angus King, who aligns with the Democrats, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen supported the bill, while the rest of the Democrats opposed it. Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., was the sole Republican to vote against the measure.
Earlier, 10 Democratic senators provided crucial support to advance the bill in a test vote, aligning with Schumer to push the funding forward despite internal party criticism. Schumer defended his stance on CNN, emphasizing the severe consequences of a government shutdown, which he argued would grant excessive power to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Schumer, acknowledging the bill's flaws, maintained that a shutdown would be a worse outcome, potentially allowing Trump and DOGE to dismantle essential services more rapidly. He highlighted the risk of Trump and Musk determining which federal services are essential, potentially leading to layoffs and agency closures.
Schumer's decision to back the short-term funding bill, despite earlier opposition, was a strategic move to ensure enough Democratic support for its passage before the shutdown deadline. He expressed that while the bill is imperfect, it prevents Trump from gaining more control through a shutdown.
Trump praised Schumer's decision on social media, calling it a courageous move that could lead to significant changes for the country. Meanwhile, two letters from Democratic lawmakers urged senators to reject the GOP's continuing resolution, criticizing it as enabling Trump's agenda.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized the bill and urged Democrats to oppose it, while commending House Democrats for their strong opposition. She emphasized the need for a better solution, rejecting the notion of a false choice between the bill and a shutdown.