On Tuesday evening, Senate Democrats voted against a straightforward extension of government funding, although a few members sided with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in an effort to avert a looming government shutdown.
Three Democratic senators—John Fetterman from Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, and Angus King of Maine—joined Republicans in support of funding the government. Nonetheless, the bipartisan spending bill did not meet the required 60 votes to pass, ending with a tally of 54-45.
This vote revealed some internal divisions within the Senate Democratic Caucus about the potential fallout of a government shutdown. The trio aimed to back Schumer to ensure that government funding wouldn’t lapse come March.
“We cannot allow the government to shut down and harm Nevada families while empowering this reckless administration,” Cortez Masto stated in a post-vote comment.
Interestingly, Republican Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky voted alongside the Democrats, arguing that there had been a failure to make necessary spending cuts.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump indicated that a Democrat-backed plan could replace the shutdown with a temporary funding suspension lasting seven weeks, extending until November 21st.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune called the support from some Democrats for the GOP funding measure a clear example of in-party conflict, contradicting Schumer’s push to shut down the government.
“There’s a sense that the strategy being adopted by Democratic leaders is misguided,” Thune mentioned at a post-vote press conference. “I’m curious to see how the Democrats will unfold from here.”
If the Senate fails to pass the funding measures by the upcoming deadline, government finances will cease at 12:01 am on Wednesday. Top Democrats have hinted that they are ready to face a government shutdown if GOP lawmakers and Trump don’t accommodate their demands.
Schumer’s current aggressive tactics contrast sharply with his approach in March when he cooperated with Republicans to ensure government funding. This shift has drawn ire from fellow Democrats, exposing rifts within the party and stirring speculation about election challenges in 2028.
The White House has cautioned that funding lapses could have serious implications for federal operations. A crucial nutrition program for low-income women and children is set to expire on October 1st. Congress is expected to send a Zero Budget Bill to Trump’s desk soon, indicating that shutdowns would impact all government agencies.
This latest failed vote marked another instance where Schumer hurriedly led Democrats in supporting Republican efforts to secure funding before the October 1 deadline.
Democrats had previously brought forward a $1.5 trillion counter-proposal to maintain foreign aid and public broadcasting funds, but this, too, fell short of the necessary 60 votes in the Senate.
Republicans have accused Democrats of hypocrisy for rejecting short-term spending bills, despite having supported similar measures during Joe Biden’s presidency.
They also pointed out previous instances where Democrats opposed government shutdowns over unrelated policy matters.
“Minority leaders seem to ignore that it’s Democrats who are pushing the country towards a shutdown,” Senate Whip John Barrasso remarked. “Remember what Senator Schumer said in 2013 about shutting down the government? It’s a misguided strategy.”
Yet, Schumer and most of his caucus continue to demand that Republicans make policy concessions to keep the government operational.
Democrats appear to be silent on how they would resolve potential shutdowns if Republicans refuse to meet their demands. “It’s clear they won’t negotiate with us. Americans are not in favor of that,” Schumer declared at a news conference. “In this struggle, I think we’re on solid ground.”
