Senate Democrats Help Advance GOP Spending Bill to Avert Shutdown

The six-month funding bill passed with bipartisan support, exposing deep divisions within the Democratic Party over strategy and priorities.

The Senate voted 62-38 to advance a Republican-led continuing resolution, with ten Democrats joining Republicans to avoid a government shutdown.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer supported the bill, citing concerns that a shutdown would give President Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) unchecked power to cut government programs.
The GOP-backed bill increases defense spending by $8 billion, cuts nondefense funding by $13 billion, and forces Washington, D.C., to slash its budget by over $1 billion, sparking criticism from Democrats.
Progressive and moderate Democrats alike expressed frustration, with figures like Nancy Pelosi and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accusing Schumer and others of conceding too much to Republicans.
The decision has intensified internal party tensions, with some questioning Schumer's leadership while others defended his choice as a pragmatic move to prevent federal worker furloughs and service disruptions.