The Senate passed a short-term funding bill Friday just hours before a potential government shutdown after Democrats caved and voted with Republicans in a massive controversy.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., stoked the rage of his liberal allies after initially telling his members to oppose the GOP-led funding bill before turning on his heels.
A closed-door meeting on Thursday was filled with Democratic senators screaming at each other as they sought to chart a path forward on the shutdown dilemma.
Democrats, under Schumer and House leader Hakeem Jeffries, initially said they would oppose the bill because it gives Trump more leeway to spend money without congressional approval. They wanted Republicans to pass a different bill.
But Schumer folded, and instead he decided against having his party vote ‘no’ on the government funding measure moving forward.
His capitulation with the Republican plan even earned the New York Democrat praise from Trump, who celebrated Schumer’s ‘guts and courage’ in backing the plan.
The Senate voted to pass the continuing resolution 54 – 46. It will now head to the president for him to sign and approve before funding runs out at midnight.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., leaves the Democratic caucus lunch at the U.S. Capitol on March 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. On Wednesday Senate Democrats, not in line with the continuing resolution passed by House Republicans providing a six-month funding extension to avert a government shutdown, proposed an alternate plan that would fund the government in the short term through April 11
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has vocally opposed Schumer’s decision to drop his opposition to the GOP bill
‘Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing — Took ‘guts’ and courage!’ Trump posted on Truth Social before the vote. ‘We should all work together on that very dangerous situation.’
‘A non pass would be a Country destroyer, approval will lead us to new heights. Again, really good and smart move by Senator Schumer. This could lead to something big for the USA, a whole new direction and beginning!’ Trump’s note continued.
Progressive ‘Squad’ leader Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., called Schumer’s play an ‘outrage and betrayal.’ Calls for AOC to run against the veteran New York Democrat senator have increased sharply in the last 24 hours.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement ‘this damaging legislation only makes matters worse’ and urged Democrats ‘not to buy into this false choice.’
The bill slightly increases defense spending by $6 billion while cutting domestic spending by $13 billion. It funds the government through September 30, 2025.
It also includes provisions that would give President Trump more control over how to spend money without the Capitol’s approval.
Democrats were forced to accept the bill Republicans were able to pass the CR through the House on Tuesday along nearly party lines 217 to 213.
Many of the House lawmakers fled town after the vote, making it impossible for the Senate to weigh other legislative options to fund the government, which is what most Democrats wanted.
Schumer initially said from the Senate floor he was advising his caucus to oppose the Republican plan before reversing course
Fetterman was always supportive of the funding bill, continuously noting that forcing a government shutdown would be a bad idea
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., split with her friend Schumer on the matter
Republicans in the Senate needed 60 votes to avoid a filibuster.
But in the end 10 Senate Democrats voted to end the filibuster and allow the bill through.
Senate Republicans needed more than a handful of Democrats to cross the aisle and vote for the Trump-backed GOP bill to keep the government open.
Sen. John Fetterman , D-Pa., predicted the embarrassing scenario would play out yesterday after ridiculing the party on social media, where he wrote that Democrats will ultimately opt to keep the federal engine running.
Other Democrats, meanwhile, expressed fury and have complained Schumer’s strategy is a mistake because the bill was rammed through by Republicans who did not make any effort to obtain bipartisan input.
‘I will NOT vote to let Elon and Trump pick winners and losers with your taxpayer dollars,’ Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., a Schumer ally, posted on X. ‘Senators were not elected to beg Trump for federal resources.’
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told reporters: ‘I cannot support a Republican budget to grease the skids for tax giveaways to billionaires.’
