U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer announced he would vote to advance a Republican-backed stopgap funding bill, signaling bipartisan efforts to prevent a government shutdown. The bill, passed by the GOP-led House, faces a critical Senate vote before Friday’s midnight deadline.
Schumer acknowledged the difficulty of supporting a bill crafted solely by Republicans, drawing backlash from Democrats. However, he emphasized that avoiding a shutdown was the priority, warning that failing to pass the bill could give President Donald Trump and his allies control over key government functions.
While Schumer has not detailed how other Senate Democrats will vote, he remains in talks with Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune about potential amendments. Democrats previously proposed a one-month extension to allow more time for negotiations, contrasting with the GOP’s 6.5-month plan. However, the amendment is unlikely to pass due to insufficient support.
Blocking the House-approved bill would have required at least 41 Democratic votes, a move Schumer and his party have long opposed to avoid unnecessary disruption. Many Democrats remain wary of shutdowns, recalling Trump’s aggressive efforts to cut federal operations, which have already caused significant disruption.
Schumer defended his stance, arguing that passing the bill would prevent the White House and billionaire Elon Musk, who Trump empowered to oversee government staffing cuts, from determining which federal agencies to reopen.
With the deadline looming, the Senate’s decision will determine whether the government continues functioning or faces another shutdown crisis.