Senate Democrats to Block GOP Funding Bill by Friday, Push for April 11 CR from Murray and DeLauro

Senate Democrats are poised to block a Republican-backed funding bill that narrowly passed the House, setting the stage for a potential government shutdown by Friday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has declared that his party will not support the House's six-month continuing resolution (CR), which funds the government through September, and instead is pushing for a one-month CR proposed by Senators Patty Murray and Rosa DeLauro to fund the government through April 11, allowing more time for bipartisan negotiations. The House bill, which passed with near party-line support, increases defense spending and funding for veterans' health care while reducing non-defense spending. Democrats are concerned that the bill would give the Trump administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency more power to implement cost-cutting measures without congressional oversight. Republicans control 53 seats in the Senate and need at least 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. With Republican Senator Rand Paul opposing the bill, and Democratic Representatives Jared Golden and Thomas Massie voting in favor, at least eight Democrats would be required to break the filibuster and pass the measure. Some Democrats, like Senator John Fetterman, have indicated willingness to support the House bill to avoid a shutdown, but the majority of the Democratic caucus remains opposed.