By Lisa Mascaro, The Related Press
WASHINGTON — A day earlier than a shutdown deadline, Senate Democrats are mounting a last-ditch protest over a Republican-led authorities funding invoice that already handed the Home however didn’t slap any limits on President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s efforts to intestine federal operations.
Senate Democrats are beneath intense strain to do no matter they’ll to cease the Trump administration’s Division of Authorities Effectivity, which is taking a wrecking ball to long-established authorities businesses by purging 1000’s of federal staff from jobs.
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Colorado Democrat, mentioned Wednesday throughout a digital city corridor he would vote towards the Republican invoice and vote “no” on the Senate cloture movement that wants 60 votes to get across the filibuster.
“The longer I take a look at it, this can be a elementary take a look at of our democracy,” he mentioned of the funding invoice. “We’d like a funding invoice that preserves Congress’ authority and, by extension, your voice.”
Colorado’s different senator, Democrat Michael Bennet, hasn’t mentioned how he’ll vote on the GOP funding invoice and cloture movement.
Democrats are pushing a stopgap 30-day funding invoice as a substitute. However its prospects are dim within the Congress managed by Republicans. And it’s unlikely the Democrats would enable a authorities shutdown, apprehensive in regards to the additional chaos they are saying Trump and Musk might trigger.
Because the Senate opened Thursday, with at some point to go earlier than Friday’s midnight deadline, the Republican Senate Majority Chief John Thune mentioned: “It’s time to fish or lower bait.”
Debates over funding the federal authorities routinely erupt in deadline moments however this yr it’s exhibiting the political leverage of Republicans, newly in majority management of the White Home and Congress, and the shortcomings of Democrats who’re discovering themselves unable to cease the Trump administration’s march throughout federal operations.
In a uncommon flip of occasions, Home Republicans caught collectively to cross their invoice, many conservatives cheering the DOGE cuts, leaving Democrats sidelined as they stood opposed. They Home then left city, sending it to the Senate for ultimate motion.
Choices for Senate Democratic chief Chuck Schumer are restricted, particularly because the occasion is cautious of absolutely withholding their votes and being blamed for a full shutdown of companies.
Schumer introduced that Democrats have been unified in urgent for a 30-day stopgap measure as an alternative choice to the Home handed invoice, which might as a substitute fund operations by means of the tip of the funds yr in September.
Along with his occasion united, Schumer mentioned the Republicans, who maintain a 53-47 majority, lack the help wanted to succeed in the 60-vote threshold, which is required to beat a filibuster.
However Senate Republicans have proven little curiosity in Schumer’s supply.
What’s extra probably is that senators could have an opportunity to vote on the Democrats’ stopgap measure, but when it fails as anticipated, the Senate would then flip to the broader invoice for passage, hours earlier than Friday’s midnight deadline.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sought to shift consideration from Trump’s tariff tit-for-tat tariff struggle to a looming federal authorities shutdown.
“I can inform you what’s not good for the economic system is that this authorities shutdown,” Bessent mentioned outdoors the White Home. “I don’t know what Democrats are pondering right here. They’re going to personal it.”
However Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the highest Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, has referred to as Trump and Musk “two billionaires to don’t know the very first thing” about what American households want.
In an extremely uncommon flip, the Home bundle additionally required the District of Columbia, which already accredited its personal balanced funds, to revert again to 2024 ranges, drawing outcry from the mayor and metropolis leaders who’re pushing the Congress to revert course. They warn of steep reductions to metropolis companies.
“Each selections that we’re being provided are filled with despair,” Hickenlooper mentioned.
Related Press author Aamer Madhani and Stephen Groves contributed to this report. Colorado Solar employees author Jesse Paul contributed to this report.
