Senate Democrats Weigh GOP's 6-Month Funding Bill to Avert Shutdown, Needing 60 Votes

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Published Mar 12, 2025, 05:07 PM

Republican leaders have proposed a plan to avoid a government shutdown, introducing a stopgap spending bill that would extend government funding through September. The House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans, narrowly passed this measure on Tuesday with only one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, supporting it. The bill, a six-month funding resolution, slightly decreases overall spending from last year, increases military spending by about $6 billion, boosts funding for veterans' health care, and cuts domestic spending by $13 billion, while also increasing funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The government funding deadline is set for this Friday, and the bill now moves to the Senate, where at least eight Democratic votes are needed to reach the 60-vote threshold required for passage. Senate Democrats are facing a difficult decision: support a bill they largely oppose or risk a government shutdown. The measure has been criticized by Democrats for potentially enabling further cost-cutting by the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk. Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has pledged to oppose the measure, adding to the challenge. Senate Democrats are considering various strategies to navigate this situation. Some are contemplating a procedural move that would allow the bill to pass with a simple majority, while others are pushing for amendments or a shorter-term funding solution. Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona remains undecided, and Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia described the choice as between 'awful and terrible.' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has remained silent on the matter, possibly to give moderate Democrats room to support the bill and avoid a shutdown.

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