It was a surprising move.
A potential government shutdown was averted just before the deadline, as a stopgap spending bill passed the Senate with the help of several Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). The final vote was 54-46, with most Republicans in support, except for Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). On the Democratic side, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Independent Sen. Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, voted for the bill, which now heads to President Donald Trump for approval.
The bill passed after clearing a key procedural vote that required 60 votes to overcome a legislative filibuster. The House of Representatives had already passed the continuing resolution, which would maintain federal spending at 2024 levels until October 1. Without the bill, the government would have faced a partial shutdown, halting non-essential services while keeping critical functions, such as national security and law enforcement, operational.
Within the Democratic Party, divisions emerged over the vote, with some Democrats criticizing the decision to oppose the bill. Tensions were high during internal Senate meetings, and some reports indicated that heated discussions took place behind closed doors. Despite these disagreements, a group of 10 Democrats joined Republicans to ensure the filibuster was defeated, enabling the bill to move forward.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) voiced frustration with his fellow Democrats, pointing out the inconsistency of opposing the stopgap measure after previously condemning government shutdowns. Ultimately, the bill passed with enough support to prevent a shutdown, with a final vote of 62-38, surpassing the required threshold.
The resolution temporarily resolves the threat of a government shutdown, but the vote highlighted the internal conflicts within the Democratic Party as well as the need for continued negotiations to reach a more permanent budget agreement. The bill’s passage provides only a short-term solution, extending government funding for several months.
