WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has enacted legislation that ensures government funding remains secure until the end of September, effectively eliminating the possibility of a partial government shutdown and concluding a contentious debate in Congress that significantly split Democrats.
Harrison Fields, the principal deputy press secretary at the White House, announced on X that Trump signed the continuing resolution on Saturday.
The legislation primarily maintains government funding levels established during Joe Biden’s administration, albeit with some modifications. It reduces non-defense expenditures by approximately $13 billion compared to last year while increasing defense spending by around $6 billion, a slight adjustment considering the total spending figure is nearly $1.7 trillion.
The Senate approved the bill on Friday with a 54-46 party line vote, aided by 10 members of the Senate Democratic caucus who supported its progression despite strong opposition within their party, particularly from their House colleagues who urged them to dismiss the bill outright.
Senate Democrats debated for several days over whether to instigate a shutdown, outraged that House Republicans crafted and passed the spending bill without input from them. They contended that the legislation undermines critical services related to health care and housing, while granting Trump considerable authority to redirect federal funding even as his administration, alongside the Department of Government Efficiency, swiftly dismantles congressionally sanctioned agencies and programs.
Ultimately, a sufficient number of Democratic senators concluded that a government shutdown would be more detrimental than allowing the funding bill to pass.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned that a shutdown would enable the Trump administration to classify entire agencies, programs, and personnel as non-essential, thereby furloughing staff without guarantees of their future employment.
“A shutdown will allow DOGE to shift into overdrive,” Schumer remarked. “Donald Trump and Elon Musk would have the opportunity to accelerate the dismantling of vital government services.”
The funding bill’s passage through the House earlier in the week represented a significant achievement for Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, who succeeded in uniting Republicans and advancing the bill without Democratic support—an accomplishment they have rarely been able to achieve in the past.
