Senate Passes GOP-Led Spending Bill to Avert Shutdown, Sending It to Trump

Democratic divisions deepen as Schumer backs controversial bill, citing fears of expanded Trump administration powers during a shutdown.

The Senate approved a Republican-drafted six-month spending bill in a 54-46 vote, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown hours before the deadline.
The bill increases defense spending by $6 billion, cuts non-defense funding by $13 billion, and gives the Trump administration broad discretion over spending allocations.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faced backlash from Democrats for supporting the bill, arguing that a shutdown would allow Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to accelerate federal downsizing.
House Democrats had unified against the bill, urging Senate colleagues to push for a 30-day funding extension to negotiate a more bipartisan measure.
The vote has exposed deep rifts within the Democratic Party, with progressives accusing Schumer of capitulation and moderates defending the decision to prevent a shutdown.