WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump on Saturday signed a government funding bill that keeps the federal government open through September, averting a shutdown after a drama-filled week on Capitol Hill exposed divisions among Democrats.
Trump‘s signature, confirmed by the White House, came after 10 Senate Democrats joined most of their Republican colleagues Friday to vote 62-38 to end debate on the continuing resolution and move to a final vote. About an hour later, the bill formally passed the Senate with a 54-46 vote, mostly along party lines.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer backed the continuing resolution, warning Democratic colleagues that a potential shutdown under Trump would be “much, much worse” than the Republican-backed spending bill.
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Yet even though enough Senate Democrats voted for the bill to bypass a filibuster, a majority of Democrats bucked Schumer’s position. Schumer, leader of the Senate Democratic caucus since 2017 who faces reelection in 2028, has faced intense criticism from the left for backing Republicans’ continuing resolution ‒ a move that resulted in Trump praising Schumer.
The bill, which was opposed by all but one Democrat in the House, boosts defense spending by $6 billion and reduces non-defense spending by about $13 billion while also giving the Trump administration more leeway on future spending decisions.
Democrats have raised alarm about empowering Trump further while his administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, has been rapidly slashing government programs and cutting workers in a push to reduce the size of the government.
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Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.