(Image Credit: IMAGN) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, standing with Senator John Wicker (R-MS), second from left, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), left, while meeting with John Thune (R-SD), second from right, Majority Leader of the United States Senate and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), right, and other Senate leadership on Capitol Hill on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025.
Washington D.C. – With just one day before a government shutdown deadline, Senate Democrats are making a last-ditch effort to oppose a Republican-led funding bill that would allow President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk to continue their aggressive efforts to overhaul federal agencies.
The funding bill, which passed the House but faces resistance in the Senate, does not impose any restrictions on the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Democrats argue that the agency is rapidly dismantling essential government functions by eliminating thousands of federal jobs.
Senate Democrats are proposing a 30-day stopgap funding bill as an alternative to the House-passed measure, which would fund the government through September. However, with Congress under Republican control, the Democratic proposal is unlikely to gain traction. While Democrats strongly oppose Trump and Musk’s sweeping government cuts, they are also hesitant to allow a shutdown, fearing it could lead to even greater disruptions.
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune urged lawmakers to take action quickly. “It’s time to fish or cut bait,” Thune said Thursday as the Senate opened debates. Government funding battles often come down to last-minute negotiations, but this year’s standoff highlights the increasing power of the Republican-controlled government and the limited options available to Democrats.
In a rare display of unity, House Republicans backed the funding bill, with many conservatives applauding DOGE’s cuts. The measure now awaits Senate approval, but Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have vowed to oppose it.
Schumer announced that all Senate Democrats are united behind the 30-day stopgap measure. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority, they do not currently have the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster. However, Senate Republicans have shown little interest in negotiating, making it increasingly likely that the broader funding bill will be put to a vote before the midnight Friday deadline.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Democrats for blocking the bill, warning that their actions could have serious economic consequences. “I can tell you what’s not good for the economy—this government shutdown,” Bessent said outside the White House. “I don’t know what Democrats are thinking here. They’re going to own it.”
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, pushed back, accusing Trump and Musk of being “two billionaires who don’t know the first thing about what American families need.”
Adding to the controversy, the House funding bill includes a provision requiring the District of Columbia to revert its budget back to 2024 levels, despite the city already approving a balanced budget for the year. This move has drawn sharp criticism from D.C. leaders, who warn of steep cuts to city services if the measure is enacted.
“Both choices that we are being offered are full of despair,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), reflecting the difficult position facing Senate Democrats as they weigh their options ahead of the shutdown deadline.
With time running out, lawmakers must now decide whether to push for an alternative funding plan or allow the Republican bill to pass in order to avoid a government shutdown.
