The Senate voted 54-46 on Friday afternoon to pass a House Republican-drafted spending bill, narrowly averting a government shutdown just hours before funding was set to expire. The measure, which funds the government through September, now heads to President Trump’s desk, where he is expected to sign it into law.
The bill’s passage largely followed party lines, with two members of the Democratic caucus—Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who is retiring, and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), who caucuses with Democrats—joining Republicans in support. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was the lone Republican to vote against it.
The legislation increases defense spending by $6 billion and boosts border enforcement funding while cutting nondefense spending by $13 billion. A contentious point for Democrats was the bill’s lack of language dictating how the Trump administration must allocate funds, sparking concerns that the president and his advisors could shift money toward their priorities without congressional oversight.
Democratic Infighting Over the Bill
The bill’s journey through Congress was marked by fierce partisan battles, especially among Senate Democrats. Progressive senators, including Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), led opposition efforts, arguing that passing the GOP-drafted legislation would embolden Trump. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), a leading progressive voice, was particularly vocal in his rejection of the bill.
“You don’t stop a bully by handing over your lunch money, and you don’t stop a tyrant by giving him more power,” Merkley told CNN.
But the risk of a government shutdown loomed large. With House Republicans refusing to reconvene before the funding deadline, Senate Democrats had to decide whether to reject the bill and force a shutdown or pass it and avoid immediate economic uncertainty.
Schumer’s Decision and the Fallout
The bill’s fate changed on Thursday when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced he would vote to advance it, acknowledging that while the measure was “very bad,” the alternative—a government shutdown—was worse.
His decision sparked outrage among liberal Democrats, particularly Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who accused him of betrayal.
“There is a deep sense of outrage and betrayal,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “This isn’t just about progressive Democrats. This is across the board, the entire party.”
Ocasio-Cortez also argued that Schumer’s support undermined vulnerable House Democrats who had taken tough votes against the bill earlier in the week, only to see Senate Democrats allow it to move forward.
But centrist Democrats, led by Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), pushed back against the criticism, arguing that opponents of the bill had no viable alternative plan to avoid a shutdown.
“I hope you can relay how little I care about her views on this,” Fetterman said in response to Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks. “What’s the exit plan once we shut the government down? What about the millions of Americans who are going to have their lives damaged? She’ll have her paycheck, though.”
With Schumer’s backing, eight other Democrats—including Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Gary Peters (Mich.), Brian Schatz (Hawaii), Shaheen, and Fetterman—joined Republicans in voting to advance the bill. King also voted to move the legislation forward.
Rejected Amendments and Final Vote
Before final passage, the Senate considered several amendments, all of which were ultimately rejected:
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) proposed reinstating veterans who had been fired from federal jobs under Trump.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sought to eliminate the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) tried to remove a $20 billion cut to IRS tax enforcement funding.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) proposed codifying cuts to foreign assistance recommended by Musk’s department.
Republicans blocked all Democratic amendments, while Paul’s amendment failed with bipartisan opposition. Had any changes been made, the bill would have needed to return to the House for final approval, pushing the process past the funding deadline.
What Comes Next?
With the government now funded through September, Republicans are shifting their focus to advancing Trump’s broader agenda, including border security and extensions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Meanwhile, progressive Democrats are vowing to push back against what they see as unchecked executive power.
