A continuing resolution extending government funding passed Friday afternoon thanks to 10 Senate Democrats who joined the GOP, Politico reported. The 62-38 vote allowed the bill to clear to a final vote on the bill, which President Donald Trump signed on Saturday.
In the week leading up to getting the bill to its final vote, Democrats were conflicted about whether to give Trump this win. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer explained the predicament Democrats found themselves in.
"While the CR bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse. I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option," Schumer said Thursday.
.@SenSchumer (D-NY): "While the CR bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse … Therefore, I will vote to keep the government open and not shut it down." pic.twitter.com/1IkuJqOObr
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 13, 2025
The continuing resolution would fund the government for another seven months. It included $13 billion in cuts for non-defense spending, which is something Trump supports and Democrats typically recoil from.
However, Democrats were eager to stave off a government shutdown that would occur if they couldn't reach an agreement on a spending bill. Before its passage, Democrats were making dire predictions about what would happen if they didn't pass it.
They were dead set against giving Trump anything he wanted, thinking it would give him an edge in implementing his agenda. Prior to the vote, it was unclear whether they would cave on this despite the pitfalls of not signing on.
When the time for a vote came, Schumer joined Republicans along with Senate Minority Whip Dick Durban. Other Democrats who voted for the bill included Sens Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Gary Peters of Michigan, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.
Sen. Angus King of Maine, who is an independent who typically joins Democrats, also voted for the bill. The only Republican to vote against it was Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky.
According to Fox News, Trump signed the bill into law on Saturday, which thwarted the impending shutdown. The government is now funded through September, which means the fight will happen all over again next fall.
Even though it passed, there was collateral damage on the GOP side from the fight. Trump went after Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky for opposing the spending bill and said, "HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him," Trump said, according to a report from Fox News.
This move sent shockwaves throughout the GOP, as Massie has been a staunch conservative. However, Massie seems to have gotten the best of Trump this time, as he's actually seen a fundraising boon after the attack.
"In less than three days, I’ve received $261,000 through 3,203 individual donations, without sending an email, a text, or a phone call. It’s a fundraising record for me and it’s boosted my current cash on hand north of $1.1 million," Massie proclaimed in a statement.
This has been a contentious fight to fund the government, but it takes the issue off the table for now. The tension between Trump and Massie will likely blow over, but leftists in the media will surely make the most of it anyway.
