WASHINGTON — The Senate approved a spending bill led by Republicans just before a looming government shutdown, despite strong opposition from Democrats. The bill was passed with a vote of 54-46 and is now headed to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Democrats expressed frustration over the lack of input in the bill, which they felt neglected important areas such as healthcare and housing. However, faced with the choice between passing the bill or risking a shutdown, enough Democratic senators decided to support Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer’s strategy to move the bill forward.
Schumer warned that a shutdown would allow the Department of Government Efficiency to accelerate actions that could harm vital government services. Ultimately, 10 Democrats broke ranks to advance the bill.
Despite pushback from some Democrats and calls for a true compromise with Republicans, the bill passed with the support of two Democrats and one Republican opposing it. The legislation provides funding for the government for the next six months.
The inability of Congress to pass annual appropriations bills led to the need for short-term extensions like this one, which would fund the government through the end of September.
The latest spending bill includes a decrease of about $13 billion from the previous year and an increase in defense spending of about $6 billion. These changes are considered marginal when compared to the overall spending level of nearly $1.7 trillion. The Republican-led House passed the bill on Tuesday and then adjourned, leaving senators with the choice to either accept or reject it. Despite Democrats pushing for a fourth short-term extension, GOP leadership made it clear that this option was not on the table.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and others argued that any potential government shutdown would be blamed on the Democrats. House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized that Republicans were unified in completing the task at hand. However, some House Democrats criticized their Senate counterparts for not standing up to the current administration.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that a shutdown would give the Trump administration more power to designate agencies, programs, and personnel as non-essential, leading to staff furloughs without guarantees of rehiring. Democrats raised concerns about the funding levels and discretion given to the administration in the bill, labeling it as a “blank check” for Trump.
The bill passed by the House under a continuing resolution removes specific funding directives for key programs, granting the administration more flexibility in spending decisions. Democrats raised alarms that money allocated for combating issues like fentanyl could be redirected towards other initiatives, such as mass deportations.
Several amendments to the bill failed, but one aimed at eliminating funding for a specific program drew support from Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski. This spending bill is distinct from the GOP’s plan to extend tax cuts for individuals and offset the costs through government spending cuts, which will be developed in the coming months.
The Senate also unanimously approved a separate bill to rectify an unexpected provision that would have forced the District of Columbia to revert to 2024 budget levels, resulting in a $1.1 billion cut, despite the district generating most of its revenue independently. This bill will now proceed to the House for further consideration.
___
Contributions to this story were made by Associated Press writers Leah Askarinam and Matt Brown from Leesburg, Va.
