Senate Advances Spending Bill to Avert Shutdown \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A Senate vote advanced a spending bill to prevent a partial government shutdown, with 10 Democrats joining Republicans to clear the 60-vote threshold. Progressives objected, arguing the bill gives Trump too much spending power, but Schumer sided with GOP leaders to ensure government operations continue. The measure, which funds the government through September, now faces final Senate approval ahead of the Friday midnight deadline.
Senate Spending Bill Fight – Quick Looks
- Senate advances spending bill with a 62-38 vote, avoiding a government shutdown—for now.
- 10 Democrats broke ranks to support the measure, despite progressive backlash.
- The bill trims $13 billion from non-defense spending while boosting defense funding by $6 billion.
- Chuck Schumer backed the bill, angering some Democrats who oppose Trump’s expanded spending control.
- House Democrats condemned the move, calling it a “capitulation” to Trump and Musk’s influence.
- Donald Trump praised Schumer’s decision, a rare moment of alignment.
- Democrats fear the bill gives Trump a “blank check”, with leeway to redirect funds toward mass deportations.
- The bill cuts $20 billion from IRS funding, adding to prior reductions under Biden-era legislation.
- The District of Columbia faces a $1.1 billion budget rollback, forcing major local spending cuts.
- Senate Republicans insist Democrats must support the House-passed bill or take blame for a shutdown.
- Progressives demand a short-term extension instead, saying the current bill enables a larger GOP economic agenda.
Deep Look
As the Friday midnight deadline approached, the Senate took a key step toward averting a partial government shutdown, advancing a Republican-led spending bill in a 62-38 procedural vote. But the move exposed deep divisions among Democrats, with progressives arguing the bill hands too much control to President Trump, while party leadership, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, prioritized keeping the government open.
Democrats Torn Between Stopping a Shutdown and Resisting Trump’s Influence
For Schumer and moderate Democrats, the decision was a necessary compromise to prevent a government funding lapse that could disrupt federal agencies, military paychecks, and public services. The bill, which keeps the government funded through September, follows a pattern of short-term spending extensions due to Congress’s failure to pass a full budget.
But for progressives and House Democratic leaders, the measure was a surrender to Republican priorities, granting Trump vast discretion over spending allocations. The bill would allow the Trump administration to shift funds between agencies with little oversight—potentially redirecting resources away from public health and social services toward deportation efforts and military expansion.
Schumer, who initially allowed his party members to express their frustration over the spending bill, ultimately switched course at the last moment, signaling that a shutdown was not an option. His decision to move forward with the GOP-backed bill outraged many in his party, who believe resisting Trump’s agenda should take precedence over short-term government stability.
House Democrats Condemn the Senate’s Move
The House Democratic leadership, which had largely opposed the bill, issued a scathing statement as the Senate moved forward. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar criticized the Senate for caving to Trump and Musk’s agenda.
“House Democrats will not be complicit,” the leadership wrote in a joint statement from their annual issues retreat, where frustration boiled over. “We remain strongly opposed to the partisan spending bill under consideration in the Senate.”
Trump and Musk’s Influence on the Spending Bill
Ironically, Trump himself praised Schumer for pushing the bill forward. Just a day earlier, the former president was gearing up to blame Democrats for a shutdown, but after Schumer’s decision, he reversed course.
“Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing—Took ‘guts’ and courage!” Trump wrote on his social media platform.
Schumer also warned that a shutdown would only strengthen Trump’s grip over government operations, allowing his administration to deem entire agencies as “non-essential” and furlough workers indefinitely.
“A shutdown will allow DOGE to shift into overdrive,” Schumer said, referring to the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). “Trump and Musk would be free to destroy vital government services at a much faster rate.”
What’s in the Spending Bill?
The spending measure represents a $1.7 trillion package, with small reductions in domestic spending and a slight increase in defense funding:
- Non-defense spending drops by $13 billion compared to the previous year.
- Defense spending increases by $6 billion.
- $20 billion in IRS funding is cut, following a previous $20 billion rescission under Biden.
- The District of Columbia faces a $1.1 billion rollback, reversing its local budget increases.
One of the biggest concerns for Democrats opposing the bill is that it strips away funding directives that would normally limit how money is spent. This gives Trump broad authority to reallocate federal funds, which critics say could be used for policies such as mass deportations instead of addressing the opioid crisis.
Republicans Push Back Against Democratic Criticism
Senate Republicans dismissed Democratic objections, arguing that the bill was necessary to keep federal agencies running and that delaying passage would only harm the American people.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) framed the vote as a test of Democratic priorities.
“Democrats need to decide if they’re going to support funding legislation that came over from the House, or if they’re going to shut down the government,” Thune said.
Other Republicans, such as Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), accused Democrats of hypocrisy for opposing the bill on the basis of protecting government programs while simultaneously risking a shutdown.
“Democrats are fighting to withhold the paychecks of air traffic controllers, our troops, federal custodial staff,” Cotton said. “They can’t be serious.”
What’s Next?
With the procedural hurdle cleared, the bill now moves toward a final Senate vote. If it passes, it will be sent to Trump for approval, ensuring government funding through September.
However, progressives are still pushing for a last-minute alternative: a 30-day extension, allowing time to negotiate stronger guardrails against Trump’s spending discretion. But Republican leaders have made it clear that the House-passed bill is the only option—leaving Senate Democrats to either accept it or risk a shutdown.
Beyond this immediate spending fight, larger budget battles loom. Republicans are planning a reconciliation package that could include tax cut extensions from Trump’s first term—with deep spending reductions to offset the cost.
“You’re looking at a one-two punch,” warned Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). “A very bad CR now, and then a reconciliation bill that will be the final kick in the teeth for the American people.”
As the final vote nears, Democrats must decide whether keeping the government open outweighs concerns about Trump’s unchecked spending power—a debate likely to shape future battles over federal funding and government control.
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