Spending bill to avert shutdown successfully beats filibuster with hours until deadline
If a spending bill is not passed by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, the government will enter into a partial shutdown
By Julia Johnson Fox News
Published March 14, 2025 5:06pm EDT
Senators voted to advance the House-passed stopgap spending bill on Friday as the deadline for a government shutdown inches closer.
The House-passed short-term spending bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), would keep spending levels the same as fiscal year (FY) 2024 until Oct. 1. However, if a spending bill is not passed by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, the government will enter into a partial shutdown.
Democrats in the Senate were embroiled in passionate disagreement this week over what to do when the measure eventually came for the key procedural vote. In order to reach the 60-vote threshold, Republicans needed some Democratic support, as the GOP majority is only 53 seats and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., planned to vote against it.
Amid tense caucus meetings leading up to the vote, Democrats were tight-lipped, unwilling to reveal details about the discussions. During one meeting on Thursday, a senator yelled so loudly that the press could hear through thick, heavy wooden meeting room doors. The voice was identified by the press as that of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., but her office would not confirm.
Several Democratic senators came out against the stopgap bill ahead of the procedural hurdle, sharing that they wouldn't vote to advance it or vote for its passage.
However, they faced criticism from staunch government shutdown opponent Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who joked about their "spicy" social media videos about voting no.
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