 "US averts government shutdown as Senate passes funding bill after a split in Democrats")
The US Senate narrowly averted a government shutdown on Friday by passing a Republican-led spending bill just hours before the deadline.
The bill was passed amid strong opposition from Democrats in the House and now heads to President Donald Trump for approval.
A divide in Democrats
The vote, 54-46, reflected deep divisions among Democrats over how to respond to the Trump administration’s efforts to cut federal jobs and services.
Some Democrats wanted to oppose the bill, arguing it neglected key priorities like health care and housing, while others feared a shutdown would be worse. In the end, enough Democrats supported Senate leader Chuck Schumer’s strategy to let the bill pass.
“A shutdown will allow DOGE to shift into overdrive,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said. Schumer said that Donald Trump and Elon Musk would be free to dismantle vital government services at a much faster rate.
Democrats faced a tough choice—either let a bill pass that gives President Donald Trump broad control over spending or vote against it and trigger a government shutdown.
In the end, 10 Democrats helped move the bill forward, and two supported it in the final vote. Meanwhile, Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky opposed it.
The bill extends funding for six months
The bill, now awaiting Trump’s signature, extends government funding for six more months.
“The American people elected Democrats to fight against Republican dysfunction and chaos,” said a letter from 66 House Democrats to Schumer.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and his team rushed back to the Capitol, urging senators to reject the bill and negotiate a fair deal with Republicans. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi called the bill “unacceptable.”
Some Democrats argued that if a shutdown happened, Republicans would be blamed since they controlled both Congress and the White House.
“If you refuse to consider any Democratic input and don’t get our votes, that’s on Republicans,” said Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsSchumer receives Trump’s praise
Surprisingly, Schumer received unexpected support from Trump, who had previously been preparing to blame Democrats for a shutdown.
“Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing—Took ‘guts’ and courage!” Trump said in a social media post.
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