On Saturday, President Donald Trump signed a continuing resolution (CR) funding bill into law, preventing a government shutdown just hours before the deadline.
The bill had passed through both the House and Senate earlier in the week, securing enough support to keep the government operational.
White House spokesman Harrison Fields confirmed the development in a statement, saying Trump “signed the CR.”
.@POTUS signed the CR.
— Harrison Fields (@HFields47) March 15, 2025
Thank you, @SpeakerJohnson, @LeaderJohnThune, @SenSchumer, @HouseGOP, @SenateGOP, @SenFettermanPA, @SenCortezMasto, @SenBrianSchatz, @SenatorDurbin, @SenGillibrand, @SenGaryPeters, @SenatorHassan, @SenatorShaheen, and @SenAngusKing. https://t.co/HQiZY4t65T
The House passed the spending bill earlier in the week, with a narrow GOP majority successfully pushing it through. The measure includes a $13 billion cut to nondefense spending while increasing defense spending by $6 billion, reflecting Republican priorities to shift more funding toward national security.
After clearing the House, the bill moved to the Senate, where it faced a cloture vote on Friday. This procedural step ended debate on the bill and allowed it to proceed to a simple majority vote. The final Senate tally was 54-46, with two Democrats joining Republicans to secure its passage.
Democratic Backlash Over Senate Votes
The decision of ten Senate Democrats to support cloture sparked controversy within their party. Their votes allowed the bill to move forward, despite widespread opposition among House Democrats.
All but one House Democrat voted against the spending measure, arguing that it did not align with their policy goals and disproportionately favored defense spending over domestic programs.
Many House Democrats also urged their Senate counterparts to reject the bill, hoping to force a stronger negotiation stance against Republicans.
However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer defended his decision to support the bill, arguing that a government shutdown would have been even more damaging.
Schumer’s Justification for Supporting the Bill
Schumer addressed concerns from fellow Democrats on Thursday, emphasizing the risks of a shutdown and pointing to outside influences pushing for government dysfunction.
“Musk has already said he wants a shutdown, and public reporting has shown he is already making plans to expedite his destruction of key government programs and services,” Schumer said. “A shutdown would give Donald Trump the keys to the city, the state, and the country.”
By preventing a shutdown, Schumer and other Democrats who voted for cloture sought to block efforts from figures like Elon Musk and others who had advocated for significant spending cuts and government downsizing.
Had the government shut down, many federal employees would have faced furloughs, and the administration could have used the opportunity to implement deeper cuts.
Political Fallout and Calls for Primary Challenges
Despite Schumer’s explanation, his decision to support the bill did not sit well with many within his party. Some House Democrats, along with progressive activists, have begun calling for a primary challenge against Schumer in response to his vote.
The internal divisions within the Democratic Party reflect broader tensions over federal spending priorities and how to navigate Republican-led budget proposals.