A potential government shutdown was narrowly avoided late Friday night as the Senate passed a funding bill just hours before the 11:59 p.m. deadline.
The measure successfully overcame a filibuster after enough Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, joined Republicans in supporting the bill.
The final vote was 54-46, with nearly all Republicans voting in favor, except for Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, who opposed it.
Most Democrats voted against the bill, with the exceptions of Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Independent Senator Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with the Democrats and voted to pass the measure.
With the bill’s approval, it now heads to President Donald Trump for his signature, ensuring the government remains operational.
A Close Call on the Senate Floor
Earlier in the day, the Senate faced a critical procedural vote that required a 60-vote threshold to move forward, a process known as the legislative filibuster.
The outcome remained uncertain until a small group of Senate Democrats broke ranks with their party and provided the necessary votes to advance the bill.
The House had already passed the continuing resolution earlier in the week, ensuring that spending levels would remain the same as the previous fiscal year until October 1. Without the bill’s passage, the government would have entered a partial shutdown, causing disruptions across federal agencies.
What a Shutdown Would Have Meant
Had the deadline passed without a resolution, a partial government shutdown would have begun, impacting various federal agencies and non-essential services.
However, critical government functions deemed essential—such as border patrol, law enforcement, and disaster response—would have remained operational.
A prolonged shutdown could have affected government workers, delayed paychecks, and stalled key federal programs. The uncertainty caused deep divisions within the Democratic Party, leading to internal tensions and disagreements over the best course of action.
Democratic Infighting Over the Vote
The debate over the funding bill exposed significant fractures within the Democratic Party. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York notably refused to answer whether he had confidence in Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
During one particularly heated Senate caucus meeting, shouting could be heard from behind the chamber’s heavy wooden doors. The press later identified the voice as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, though her office did not confirm it.
The Key Votes That Secured Passage
Despite opposition from the majority of Senate Democrats, ten Democrats joined Republicans in voting to overcome the filibuster and pass the bill. Those senators included:
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois, Senator Angus King of Maine, Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Senator Gary Peters of Michigan, Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire
With their support, the measure surpassed the 60-vote threshold, winning by a final margin of 62-38.