Government Shutdown Likely Averted: Senate Advances GOP Funding Bill—Despite Democratic Infighting

Topline

The Senate took a key step toward approving the GOP-backed spending plan to keep the government up and running through September, hours before the midnight deadline that would have triggered a shutdown, with several Senate Democrats teaming with Republicans to move the bill forward—sparking backlash from House Democrats against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Key Facts

The Senate voted 62-38 to invoke cloture and end the filibuster on the bill, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and other Democrats voting alongside Republicans to advance the bill to a final vote.

The Senate still needs to hold a final vote on the bill Friday evening, sending it to President Donald Trump’s desk before the midnight government shutdown deadline—but final passage only requires a 50-vote majority, making it likely to pass.

Senate Democrats who approved the bill did so despite resistance from House Democrats, who near-unanimously opposed the bill when it passed the House on Tuesday in a 217-213 vote, with one Republican opposed and one Democrat supporting it.

Senate rules put Democrats in the upper chamber in a precarious position as there are only 53 Republicans in the Senate and 60 votes are needed to break the filibuster and advance the bill to a final vote—meaning Democrats risked being blamed for a shutdown if the bill failed.

The bill largely extends the current fiscal year 2024 government funding plan through the end of September, with a $13 billion cut to nondefense spending and a $6 billion increase in defense spending.

Chief Critic

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., issued a veiled attack against Schumer after the Senate minority leader said Thursday he would approve the bill, defying House Democrats who opposed it. Jeffries declined to defend Schumer when asked if “it is time for new leadership in the Senate,” telling reporters, “next question,” adding, “I look forward to reporting back to all of you” after he’s had conversations with Schumer’s constituents in New York over the weekend. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., also urged Senate Democrats to reject the bill on Friday, calling it a “false choice between a government shutdown or a blank check,” echoing concerns from some Democrats that the bill would allow the Trump administration to spend—and freeze—funding without congressional guardrails.

Key Background

House Republicans united behind the bill after some initial resistance from the usual GOP fiscal hawks who typically oppose short-term funding bills, citing their desire for steeper cuts, with a number of members citing the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency’s ongoing work to reduce the size of the government workforce. One Republican, Rep. Tom Massie, R-Ky., voted against it, drawing repeated attacks from Trump, who urged Republicans to approve the plan. Trump, taunting Schumer, publicly congratulated him on Friday after he agreed to approve the plan.

Further Reading

Government Shutdown: Trump Tells Schumer ‘Congratulations’ For Letting GOP Spending Bill Pass (Forbes)

House Approves Spending Bill Ahead Of Government Shutdown Deadline (Forbes)

Trump Feuds With ‘Grandstander’ GOP Rep. Massie For Defying Anti-Government Shutdown Bill (Forbes)