Senate Passes Six-Month Funding Bill to Avert Government Shutdown

What Happened?

The Senate voted 54-46 to pass a Republican-led funding bill to keep the government in operation for six months and avert a shutdown.

The bill headed to the White House Friday for President Donald Trump’s signature just hours before the deadline.

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Sen. Angus King of Maine voted to support the resolution while Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky opposed it.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pledged on Thursday to advance it after initially signaling his caucus would fight back.

Schumer warned a government shutdown would have posed a larger threat to the American people.

Instead, Senate members worked together to pass the measure ahead of a midnight deadline and fund the government through September.

'For sure, the Republican bill is a terrible option,' Schumer said during a floor speech. 'It doesn't address far too many of this country's needs. But I believe allowing (President) Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option.'

President Trump took to Truth Social Friday to applaud Schumer for 'doing the right thing,' adding it took 'guts and courage.'

The House narrowly approved the stopgap measure Tuesday in a 217 to 213 vote as Speaker Mike Johnson helped keep his GOP conference united.

Lone Democratic representative Rep. Jared Golden of Maine supported the bill as Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the only Republican to oppose it.

Why it Matters

The GOP measure helps invoke what Trump has called the 'big, beautiful bill.'

It focuses on border security, energy provisions, and tax cuts that he has campaigned on.

More money was also allowed for border enforcement as Speaker Johnson aimed to advance the agenda goals of the Trump administration.

But top Democrats have reportedly expressed frustration with the spending reductions.

Senator Elizabeth Warren warned against giving Trump and his advisor Elon Musk 'a blank cheque to spend your taxpayer money however they want.'

The Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have carried out mass cost-cutting federal reduction efforts.

Congressional leaders have also expressed concerns surrounding cuts that may impact social services like Medicaid.

The House passed the bill with a new resolution that boosts military spending by $6 billion over current levels while reportedly cutting $13 billion from non-defense programs.

Democrats reportedly railed against cuts to housing programs, medical research, and more than $1 billion in reductions to D.C.'s local government spending.

How it Affects You

The measure could still add $5 trillion to $11 trillion to the debt, according to nonpartisan budget analysts.

Provisions have been reportedly included to make it harder to force a vote on challenging Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China.

It will be an early test for Trump as he rallies congressional support to carry out plans to address the nation's debt deficit.