WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate has successfully passed a Republican-led spending bill, preventing a government shutdown and securing funding for the next six months.

The bill, which passed with a 54-46 vote, saw two Democrats breaking ranks to support it, while all but one Republican senator voted in favor. President Donald Trump swiftly signed it into law, the White House confirmed on Saturday.

The decisive moment came earlier in the week when Senate Democrats engaged in intense debate over whether to allow the measure to advance. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and nine other Democrats supported moving the bill forward, despite widespread division within the party.

Ultimately, Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Independent Senator Angus King of Maine voted in favor of final passage, while Schumer opposed it. Schumer justified his earlier decision, stating that while the bill was far from ideal, allowing a government shutdown would have been worse.

However, his stance drew sharp criticism from progressive lawmakers, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who called it a “huge slap in the face” to Democrats. She accused those who supported the measure of enabling deep budget cuts that favor billionaires and corporate interests.

The spending package preserves much of the federal funding levels from the Biden administration but includes notable adjustments. It increases military spending by $6 billion for border security, veterans’ healthcare, and defense initiatives while cutting non-defense expenditures by approximately $13 billion.

Local officials in Washington, D.C., initially feared the bill would slash $1 billion in federal funding for the city. However, a separate Senate-approved measure ensured its budget remained intact, according to the New York Times.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz praised the bill’s passage, accusing Democrats of “political theater” and urging lawmakers to “get back to work.” Meanwhile, Trump lauded Schumer’s role in advancing the bill, calling its approval a step toward “new heights” for the country.

With the shutdown averted, the focus now shifts to ongoing negotiations over long-term government spending and budget priorities.

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