The Senate Simply Voted to Keep away from a Authorities Shutdown

• Senate Republicans led the passage of laws that may avert a authorities shutdown.
• 9 Democrats voted to keep away from a filibuster, regardless of sturdy objections from others within the social gathering.
• Republicans can now give attention to their sweeping border and tax reduce laws.

Senators voted on Friday to avert a authorities shutdown simply hours earlier than it might happen, sending President Donald Trump laws that may slash non-defense spending and enhance the Pentagon’s finances.

The ultimate vote was 54 to 46. Just one Democratic lawmaker, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, joined virtually all Republicans in passing the invoice. Sen. Angus King, an unbiased from Maine who caucuses with Democrats, additionally voted for the invoice. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a Republican, voted in opposition to the funding laws.

Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer introduced Thursday night time that he would assist permitting the invoice to progress, breaking a filibuster and its 60-vote threshold. 9 Democrats and King joined practically each Republican to advance the invoice to its last simple-majority vote.

Possible in alternate for the Democratic votes transferring the invoice ahead, Senate Majority Chief John Thune allowed Democrats to vote on three completely different amendments to the funding invoice. All of them did not move, together with a measure by Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, a Democrat, which might have successfully shut down the White Home DOGE workplace, which is successfully led by Elon Musk.

After passing the federal government funding invoice, senators are anticipated to move a bipartisan repair to a provision within the funding invoice that may have required Washington, DC, to chop $1 billion out of its finances. The Home would wish to move that laws after they return.

A shutdown would have begun within the early hours of Saturday morning if Congress did not move new funding.

This can be a main victory for Trump, who is predicted to signal the laws shortly, and Home Speaker Mike Johnson. Johnson basically jammed Senate Democrats by passing the invoice by way of the Home on a near-party line vote. He then despatched lawmakers residence, daring Schumer and Democrats to vote down the laws and trigger a authorities shutdown.

“Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the best factor — Took ‘guts’ and braveness!” Trump wrote on Fact Social on Friday morning earlier than the vote. “The large Tax Cuts, L.A. hearth repair, Debt Ceiling Invoice, and a lot extra, is coming.”

Dissent amongst Democrats

In distinction, many Democrats are livid with Schumer for pushing to advance the invoice. They view the laws as a inexperienced gentle to the DOGE workplace and Musk.

“Donald Trump and Republicans are crashing the economic system. They plan to take a chainsaw to Social Safety, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans advantages and public faculties — all as a way to give huge tax cuts to their billionaire donors and rich companies,” Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jefferies and his two high deputies mentioned in a joint assertion. “Home Democrats is not going to be complicit.”

Schumer mentioned that he feared a shutdown would additional empower Musk and Trump, warning that there was no clear means out of a possible weekslong standoff.

The laws features a $6 billion enhance in protection spending in comparison with fiscal yr 2024. The invoice will increase funding for diet help for girls, infants, and youngsters (WIC) by $500 million. On the identical time, the invoice cuts total non-defense spending by $13 billion in comparison with the final fiscal yr. Notably, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has warned of a $1 billion reduce to the finances of the nation’s capitol.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and different progressives had urged Democrats to kill the Home GOP-led funding invoice citing issues over its failure to rein within the DOGE workplace. Some high Senate Democrats, together with Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, refused to associate with Schumer’s transfer. Murray, the highest Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, mentioned the invoice was a “vote to show YOUR taxpayer {dollars} into Trump & Elon’s private slush funds.”

Republicans nonetheless have robust votes forward

The invoice extends authorities funding by way of September 30. Its passage means Trump and Republicans will not have to fret a couple of potential shutdown as they enter the thick of negotiations for his or her huge border safety and tax invoice. Johnson has pledged to ship Trump laws by Easter, an bold timeline requiring each homes to succeed in an settlement quickly. The Home and Senate are nonetheless negotiating whether or not the laws will embody Trump’s tax cuts or in the event that they punt that situation to a different time.

This is not the ultimate fiscal deadline looming. Congress nonetheless has to boost the debt restrict within the months forward, probably as early as this spring.