In order to prevent a partial shutdown that would have started at midnight, the Senate approved a package Friday night that will keep the federal government financed through September.
In a crucial procedural vote to move the bill forward Friday afternoon, ten Democrats joined all but one of their Republican colleagues. However, a much smaller number of Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the plan, which gives President Donald Trump more control over spending and reallocates certain funds to his objectives. The bill is anticipated to be signed by Trump on Friday night.
The vote coincides with the administration’s widespread federal employee layoffs, a developing trade war between Trump and foreign allies, and economic uncertainty that would only increase with any further indications of U.S. political instability.
Senate passes GOP funding extension
The Senate voted 54-46 in favor of the funding extension that will keep the government operating through the end of September.
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the lone Republican to vote against the ultimate passage. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with Democrats, were the only Democrats to vote for final passage.
Four proposed amendments to the measure were rejected by the Senate, one of which would have abolished the Department of Government Efficiency, which has led significant reforms to the federal government.
In a crucial vote to end the filibuster, ten Democrats joined Republicans earlier this afternoon to move the bill forward.
In order to prevent a government shutdown at midnight, President Donald Trump is anticipated to sign the bill later today.
Republicans receive the Democratic backing they require to move the spending bill forward.
To move the budget plan to a final vote, at least eight Democratic senators were required, and on Friday, the magic number was achieved.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; John Fetterman, D-Pa.; Gary Peters, D-Mich.; Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii; Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; Maggie Hassan; Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.; and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. are among the Senate Democrats who voted in favor of the spending package.
Maine independent Sen. Angus King also supported the bill’s advancement.
After casting his ballot, Peters issued a statement saying, “This is a difficult choice, but with the deadline quickly approaching, I believe Congress must do its most basic job to keep the lights on.”
Fetterman stated that his yes vote was not “an endorsement of this deeply flawed CR” in a post on X, formerly Twitter.