Saturday, 15 Mar 2025

Senate to take up Trump spending bill as clock ticks down to government shutdown

A vote to end debate on the House-passed stopgap spending bill to avoid a government shutdown will take place on Friday afternoon ahead of the late-night deadline.


Senate to take up Trump spending bill as clock ticks down to government shutdown
1.3 k views

The Friday cloture vote was scheduled shortly after his Thursday evening announcement. It will take place shortly after 1:15 p.m. ET.

In order to move forward to a final passage vote, the stopgap bill will need 60 favorable votes to beat what's known as the legislative filibuster. 

During a partial government shutdown, federal agencies and non-essential services would be halted. However, government functions deemed "essential" would continue. National security protocols, such as border patrol, law enforcement and disaster response, stay active during shutdowns, for example. 

House Republicans managed to pass a CR earlier in the week that would keep spending levels the same as fiscal year (FY) 2024 until Oct. 1. But if a spending bill is not passed by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, the government will enter into a partial shutdown.

While some Senate Democrats, such as Schumer and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., have committed to supporting the CR, far more of their colleagues have publicly stated that they will oppose it. 

 "The House bill also irresponsibly fails to impose any constraints on the reckless and out-of-control Trump Administration," Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., said in a late Thursday statement.  

"I will oppose the House budget proposal. The best available solution is a 30-day stopgap funding measure to avoid a shutdown, during which time Congress can do its job to properly pass a bipartisan budget," he said. 

Democrats had pushed for a month-long CR, but Republicans didn't budge from the House-passed plan. 

Earlier Thursday, Fetterman slammed his colleagues for pledging to vote against the short-term bill, joking that their video announcements were "spicy."

"It wasn't that long ago before we were lecturing that you can never shut the government down. So, that's kind of inconsistent," he told reporters. 

"We can all agree that it's not a great CR, but that's where we are, and that's the choice," Fetterman explained. 

If the procedural vote on Friday garners enough votes to beat the legislative filibuster, a vote on final passage will be planned for within the next day and a half. It could come sooner if parties reach a time agreement.

you may also like

Neighbors react as viral 'Tunnel Girl' granted permit to continue digging massive bunker under home
  • by foxnews
  • descember 09, 2016
Neighbors react as viral 'Tunnel Girl' granted permit to continue digging massive bunker under home

"Tunnel Girl" in Herndon, Virginia, "finally" got her tunnel project approved after pausing the project due to a potential violation. Locals and social media users react.

read more