Senate Advances Government Funding Bill, Dodging Midnight Shutdown
In a critical move to ensure the government remains operational and avert a looming shutdown by midnight, the Senate has successfully passed a pivotal procedural vote regarding the continuing resolution (CR). This sets the stage for a final floor vote later tonight.
As reported by Kristinn Taylor from , Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced during a floor speech on Thursday evening that he would not engage in a filibuster and would support the cloture motion on the Republican-led continuing resolution. This bill aims to keep the federal government funded through the end of the current fiscal year, September 30, marking a notable early success for President Donald Trump.
Schumer acknowledged the bill’s shortcomings, stating, “While the CR bill is very bad… Allowing Donald Trump to take even more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option.” He further warned that a shutdown would effectively hand control over to Trump, DOGE chief Elon Musk, and OMB Director Russ Vought, likening it to giving them “the keys to the city, state, and country.”
According to CNN, nine Democrats and one independent aligned with the Democrats supported the advancement of this funding bill, a necessary step as Congress races against the clock to prevent a shutdown.
The procedural vote concluded with a tally of 62-38, with a final vote scheduled for later in the evening. Notably, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) stood alone among Republicans in opposing the measure.
This outcome aligns with predictions made by Representative Thomas Massie, who forecasted that although the vote would appear contentious, it would ultimately pass with bipartisan support. “It’s all a fake fight. You’re going to find this out when it goes over to the Senate and you have Democrats in the Senate voting for it,” Massie remarked earlier this week.
Massie, the only Republican to vote against the CR in the House, elaborated in a video on his reasons for dissent, claiming that House Speaker Mike Johnson had struck a deal with Senate Democrats and other leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries.
He criticized the CR as yet another “UNIPARTY deal” that fails to allocate funds for border security while continuing to support USAID.
WATCH: GOP Rep. Thomas Massie Explains Why He Was the Only GOP Holdout on Trump-Backed Continuing Resolution
Meanwhile, President Trump is urging both the House and Senate for unanimous support of the bill to facilitate his policy agendas and has expressed intent to challenge Massie in a primary. Trump drew a parallel between Massie and former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, who faced significant backlash within her party for her stance.
As CNN highlights,
Now that the Senate has taken this procedural vote, the chamber will vote on four amendments to the government funding bill and then proceed to a final passage vote on the measure.
These are the members of the Democratic caucus who voted to advance the measure:
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
- Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin
- Senate Democratic Chief Deputy Whip Brian Schatz
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee)
- Sen. Maggie Hassan
- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto
- Sen. John Fetterman
- Sen. Gary Peters
- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
- Sen. Angus King (an independent who caucuses with Democrats)
