Senate Approves Funding Bill to Prevent Shutdown While Democratic Party Faces Growing Turmoil

On Friday night, the U.S. Senate successfully avoided a potential midnight shutdown of the federal government by passing a funding bill. The measure, which passed with a 54-46 vote, was approved largely along party lines, with Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and independent Angus King supporting it, while Republican Senator Rand Paul opposed it. The bill now heads to President Donald Trump, who was en route to his Mar-a-Lago estate after the vote.

A crucial procedural vote was required to end the filibuster and advance the funding bill. The vote needed 60 senators to approve the motion, which was passed 62-38. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, along with nine other Democrats and one independent, voted for the cloture motion, while Senator Rand Paul was the lone Republican voting against it. The bipartisan support was necessary, as the Senate has 53 Republicans, and only a majority vote was required for passage, with the Vice President typically breaking ties.

Funding Bill Sparks Democratic Division as Trump Praises Schumer’s Effort to Prevent Shutdown

The funding bill, which would keep the government running through September 30, includes a slight increase in military spending but cuts $13 billion from domestic, non-defense spending. While Senate Majority Leader John Thune anticipated that the bill would avert a shutdown, there were significant divisions within the Democratic Party over the bill. Senate Democrats, including Schumer, were under pressure from their party to support the bill despite opposition from House Democrats and progressive factions.

President Donald Trump expressed his approval of Schumer’s decision to vote for the bill, praising the Senate Minority Leader for demonstrating courage and working toward a resolution that could prevent a shutdown. Trump’s remarks, made on Truth Social, reflected a recognition of Schumer’s political maneuvering, which could set the stage for future bipartisan cooperation. However, Schumer’s decision to support the bill faced backlash from within his own party, particularly from more progressive members.

House and Senate Democrats Strongly Oppose Funding Bill, Criticizing Tax Cuts and Policy Impact

The funding bill, which passed the House narrowly with a 217-213 vote, was met with strong opposition from many House Democrats. Democratic leaders, including Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, criticized the bill for favoring tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of working families. Progressive voices, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, condemned the measure as a dangerous compromise, arguing that it would enable further cuts to essential programs and disproportionately benefit billionaires like Elon Musk.

The Senate Democrats faced significant internal conflict as well. In private caucus meetings, some senators, including Colorado’s Michael Bennet, expressed frustration with their leadership’s approach to the spending bill, accusing them of lacking a coherent strategy.

Critics like Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota argued that the bill did not reflect the priorities of the Democratic Party and was an example of the Trump administration’s power grab. Senator Patty Murray of Washington further criticized the bill for providing excessive flexibility to the Trump administration in determining how funds are allocated, potentially undermining key programs and policies.