Key Takeaways The Senate voted Friday to advance a measure funding the federal government through September, cutting off the threat of a shutdown.Though in the minority, Senate Democrats could have blocked the budget using the Senate's filibuster rule,

Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada were among the first Democrats to publicly back the Republican funding bill, arguing that a shutdown would only strengthen Trump’s hand. Seven more Democrat joined them during the final vote: Sens.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., arrives to speak with reporters as Republicans work to pass an interim spending bill that would avoid a partial government shutdown and keep federal agencies funded through September, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) AP

With funding set to run out at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, several more Senate Democrats remain non-committal while others publicly declared they would not vote for the short-term Republican budget bill.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives earlier this week passed the measure, which largely leaves spending steady at about $6.75 trillion in the fiscal year that ends September 30. Democrats expressed anger over the bill,