Senate approves funding bill hours before shutdown deadline, sending to Trump for signature

Senate passes Republican-led spending bill, averting government shutdown, despite Democratic opposition, sending it to President Trump for approval.

The Senate passed a Republican-led spending bill Friday (March 14, 2025) hours before a government shutdown, overcoming sharp Democratic opposition to the measure and sending it to U.S. President Donald Trump to be signed into law.

The essentially party-line vote, 54-46, didn't give the full picture of gnawing Democratic angst over how to confront the Trump administration as its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) fires federal workers and dismantles operations. Democrats argued over whether to fight even risking a shutdown and fumed that Republicans drafted a measure that included little of their input, shortchanging health care, housing and other priorities.

But in the end, enough of the Democratic senators decided a government shutdown would be even worse, and backed Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer’s strategy to allow the bill to come forward.

“A shutdown will allow DOGE to shift into overdrive,” Mr. Schumer said. “Donald Trump and Elon Musk would be free to destroy vital government services at a much faster rate.”

Democrats were confronted with two painful options: allowing passage of a bill they believe gives President Donald Trump vast discretion on spending decisions or voting no and letting funding lapse. All told, 10 Democrats voted to break the party’s filibuster to advance the bill to a final vote. On final passage, two Democrats supported the bill, and one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, opposed it. It funds the government for another six months.

Mr. Schumer gave members of his caucus days to vent their frustration about the options before them, but abruptly switched course and made clear on the eve of voting that he would not allow a government shutdown. His move outraged many in the party who want to fight the Mr. Trump agenda, but gave senators room to side with Republicans and allow the continuing resolution, often described as a CR, to advance.

Democrats from all corners looked to pressure senators to kill the bill. House members wrote letters, posted on social media and held press conferences in the hours before the vote.