Senate Democrats failed to block a GOP spending bill on Friday, all but guaranteeing President Donald Trump a victory in a days-long shutdown fight.
The U.S. Senate narrowly voted 62-38 to advance the six-month government funding bill, clearing the way for a final vote later Friday to prevent a shutdown at midnight, when current spending legislation expires.
Democrats were fuming with the GOP plan for being iced out of drafting the short-term legislation that ignores their demand to put guardrails on Elon Musk’s federal cost-cutting mission through the Department of Government Efficiency. Still, despite threatening to filibuster the measure, ten Democrats joined with Republicans to advance the measure, known as a continuing resolution because it largely locks in current funding levels through Sept. 30.
Democrats voting yes to advance the spending bill were: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) along with Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA), Angus King (I-VT), Dick Durbin, (D-IL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Gary Peters (D-MI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the only Republican to vote against the measure over his long-standing concerns about growing the federal debt and deficit.
Democrats have been sharply divided over whether to support the GOP-led bill. Republicans control 53 Senate seats and needed Democratic support to lock in the 60 votes to defeat a filibuster.
Schumer and his caucus huddled behind closed doors for days, grappling with what many called “two horrible choices:” voting for a bill they believe would permit serious cuts in funding to programs and caving to Republicans or being blamed for a government shutdown.
The New York senator argued that voting to keep the government open is “the best way to minimize harm,” warning that shutting down the government could backfire and empower Trump to dismantle more of the federal government.
.@SenSchumer in a pen and pad with reporters: “In effect, a shutdown gives Trump and his minions keys to the city and the country, and I thought that had to be avoided, and that is why I made my decision.” pic.twitter.com/4XgRVWMP99
— Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) March 13, 2025
The White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would be in charge of making agency contingency plans in the case of a shutdown.
“The [continuing resolution] is a bad bill. But as bad as the CR is, I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option. A shutdown would allow DOGE to shift into overdrive,” Schumer said, speaking on the Senate floor on Friday morning.
“It would give Donald Trump and DOGE the keys to the city, state, and country. Donald Trump and Elon Musk would be free to destroy vital government services at a much faster rate than they can right now,” he added.
Schumer’s announcement provided crucial political cover to Senate Democratic centrists who have serious concerns about the House bill but also don’t want to shut down the government, a move that would close government services that are deemed non-essential and furlough thousands of federal government workers without paychecks. Private federal contractors who work for federal agencies aren’t guaranteed back pay.
However, the move enraged fellow Democrats within the caucus and Democratic House leadership, who distanced themselves from the decision, exposing a major divide within the party. Outspoken progressives denounced the plan, accusing Senate Democrats of surrendering to Republicans and Trump while receiving nothing substantive in return.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called on Democratic senators to reject the House funding bill. Pelosi didn’t name Schumer directly, but criticized the move.
“Let’s be clear: neither is a good option for the American people. But this false choice that some are buying instead of fighting is unacceptable,” Pelosi said in a statement on Friday ahead of the vote.
SCHUMER CAVES ON SHUTDOWN BATTLE WITH GOP, CLEARING WAY FOR FUNDING BILL PASSAGE
Fellow New York Democrat, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), refused to support Schumer when asked on Friday whether he had confidence in his Senate counterpart. “Next question,” Jeffries told reporters when asked directly.
Trump congratulated Schumer for “doing the right thing” and backing the Republican bill to avert a government shutdown.
“A non pass would be a Country destroyer, approval will lead us to new heights,” wrote the president Friday morning on Truth Social. “Again, really good and smart move by Senator Schumer,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
“Took ‘guts’ and courage!” Trump added.
The GOP-led House passed the bill on Tuesday along party lines, which largely extends current government funding levels but raises defense spending by about $8 billion and lowers nondefense by roughly $13 billion before departing for a recess. The legislation also forces Washington D.C. to cut its own budget by more than $1 billion, a move local official say would cripple local schools and public safety.
The House went on recess after passing the spending bill, effectively jamming the Senate on timing to prevent any changes against the backdrop of a looming shutdown.
Bipartisan Senate appropriators led by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Patty Murray (D-WA) had been working to forge a deal on 2025 appropriations and wanted a short-term stopgap bill to buy them more time and avoid a shutdown. But the House Republicans, with the help of Trump’s lobbying, pushed through the partisan plan, effectively ending their work on the current fiscal year.
Pelosi, the former House speaker, took special objection to their work being shelved.
TRACKING WHAT DOGE IS DOING ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
“Democratic senators should listen to the women,” Pelosi said ahead of the vote, noting House Democratic appropriations leader Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) also wanted a four-week funding extension to negotiate a bipartisan agreement.
The Senate is expected to vote on the stopgap measure later on Friday. During the final round of votes, it can pass with only Republican votes and then head to Trump’s desk.