Senate Democrats hold their fire on GOP spending plan

By Manuel Quiñones | 03/11/2025 06:46 AM EDT

At least some lawmakers are waiting to see what happens in the House on Tuesday.

Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner chatting.

Virginia Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner on Capitol Hill last month. Both have been sharp critics of Trump administration spending cuts, but their state would also be particularly hurt by a government shutdown. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

With House Democrats lining up against Republican plans to prevent a government shutdown, senators are taking more of a wait-and-see approach.

House Republicans over the weekend released legislation to fund the government through September. Even though leaders billed it as a “clean” continuing resolution, it includes some cuts to environment programs.

Democrats would rather come up with a bipartisan accord for the rest of fiscal 2025 and want assurances President Donald Trump will spend the money, but they may not be willing to force a shutdown Friday.

“I’m obviously gonna look,” Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said Monday evening. “The Republicans have put us in this horrendous situation.”

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