Senate passes funding invoice, averting shutdown
The Senate voted 54-46 to cross a six-month spending invoice on Friday simply hours earlier than a authorities shutdown, sending it to President Donald Trump to be signed into regulation. LiveNOW’s Christina Evans discusses the most recent with political analyst Wealthy Rubino.
WASHINGTON – The Senate handed a Republican-led authorities funding invoice on Friday, averting a midnight authorities shutdown.
The end result was 54-46.
The invoice, which some Democrats have mentioned didn’t implement any limits on President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s efforts to intestine federal operations, will now be despatched to the president’s desk for his signature.
By the numbers:
In a vote to advance the invoice earlier Friday, a 60-vote threshold was required. That meant seven Democrats or Independents have been wanted to cross the aisle and vote with the 53 Republicans in favor of passage. With the assistance of Sen. Chuck Schumer, Republicans bought 10 further votes, pushing them previous the brink. The invoice simply handed its remaining vote – which required solely a majority – later within the night.
The US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, March 14, 2025. ( Allison Robbert/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photos)
Democrats left with no selection
Within the days main as much as the ultimate vote, Democrats have been pushing for a stopgap 30-day funding invoice as a substitute.
However in a Congress managed by Republicans, these efforts have been weak from the beginning.
Dig deeper:
Debates over funding the federal authorities routinely erupt at deadline moments, however this 12 months it’s displaying the political leverage of Republicans, newly in majority management of the White Home and Congress.
Democrats are discovering themselves unable to cease the Trump administration’s march throughout federal operations.
Home Republicans caught collectively to cross their invoice, with many conservatives cheering the DOGE cuts, leaving Democrats sidelined as they stood opposed. The Home then left city, sending it to the Senate for remaining motion.
Choices for Senate Democratic chief Chuck Schumer have been restricted, particularly because the celebration was cautious of absolutely withholding their votes and being blamed for a full shutdown of companies.
The Democratic Occasion was fracturing Friday as a torrent of frustration and anger was unleashed at Senate Democrats, led by Schumer, who confronted what they noticed as an terrible selection: shut the federal government down or consent to a Republican funding invoice that permits Trump to proceed slashing the federal authorities.
Price range Struggle: Hakeem Jeffries geese query about Chuck Schumer
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries didn’t reply a query about Sen. Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) future because the Democratic chief of the Senate throughout a press convention with different Home Democratic leaders.
After Schumer introduced Thursday that he would reluctantly assist the invoice, he bore the brunt of that anger, together with a protest at his workplace, calls from progressives that he be primaried in 2028 and ideas that the Democratic Occasion would quickly be on the lookout for new leaders.
What they’re saying:
“Trump has taken a blowtorch to our nation and wielded chaos like a weapon,” Schumer mentioned. “For Donald Trump, a shutdown can be a present. It could be one of the best distraction he may ask for from his terrible agenda.”
What’s within the invoice?
Dig deeper:
Lawmakers mentioned the invoice would trim $13 billion in non-defense spending from the degrees within the 2024 funds 12 months and enhance protection spending by $6 billion.
These adjustments are reasonably flat for each classes in comparison with an total topline of practically $1.7 trillion in discretionary spending.
The invoice doesn’t cowl the vast majority of authorities spending, together with Social Safety and Medicare. Funding for these two packages is on autopilot and never frequently reviewed by Congress.
What they’re saying:
“We’re offering the best package deal of advantages that this nation has ever offered. The largest a part of that’s going to be tax cuts for the center class and for companies, small companies, employers, folks that rent individuals, jobs,” Trump mentioned throughout his assembly with NATO Secretary Normal Mark Rutte on Thursday.
The Supply: Info for this text was taken from The Related Press and former reporting by LiveNOW from FOX. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
