On Friday, the GOP-led Senate reportedly passed a stopgap funding bill to prevent a partial government shutdown, sending it to President Donald Trump for his signature.
The final vote was 54-46, with Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Angus King (I-ME) joining nearly all Republicans in supporting the measure.
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) was the only Republican to oppose the bill alongside the majority of Democrats, including Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Earlier in the day, the Senate faced a crucial vote to invoke cloture, which required a three-fifths majority (60 votes) to proceed.
This vote passed with a 62-38 majority after Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) indicated he would not support a shutdown, causing some dissent within his party.
To advance the bill, senators had previously agreed to vote on several amendments proposed by Democrats and Paul, all of which ultimately failed.
However, the Senate did approve a separate bill that protects approximately $1.1 billion in funding for Washington, D.C., which was at risk of being cut by the continuing resolution.
Paul’s amendment aimed to reduce appropriations for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) but was rejected with a 27-37 vote.
Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) commented that while Paul’s proposal was well-intentioned, adopting it could lead to a government shutdown, which President Trump wanted to avoid.
The House had already passed the 99-page continuing resolution, which funds various federal agencies through September 30.
Trump has endorsed this funding measure as a way to keep the government operating while focusing on his priorities in national defense, border security, and tax cuts.
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