<style type="text/css"> article ul li { list-style: disc; padding: 5px 0; } </style> <article itemprop="articleBody"> <p><span class="story_dl">March 14 (UPI) --</span> The U.S. Senate on Friday night averted a looming midnight shutdown of the federal government by passing a funding bill after approving a key procedural vote with the support of enough Democrats.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00133.htm" target="_blank">measure passed 54-46</a>, nearly along party lines, with Democrat <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jeanne_Shaheen/" target="_blank" title="Jeanne Shaheen" class="tpstyle">Jeanne Shaheen</a> of New Hampshire and independent Angus King voting yes and Republican <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Rand_Paul/" target="_blank" title="Rand Paul" class="tpstyle">Rand Paul</a> of Kentucky voting no. <div class="mt-5 text-center mb-5" style="min-height: 305px;"><div class="ad_tag">Advertisement</div><div class="upi-content"></div></div></p> <p>The bill now goes to President <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Donald_Trump/" target="_blank" title="Donald Trump" class="tpstyle">Donald Trump</a>, who flew to his Mar-a-Lago estate from Washington, D.C., early Friday evening.</p> <p>The earlier vote to end the filibuster needed to be approved by at least 60 senators. <div class="read-more-inline lato"><h3 class="arimo bold">Related</h3> <ul><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/12/spending-bill-Democrat-Republican-shutdown/1071741800170/" target="_blank" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Related Article', 'US News');" title="Government shutdown soon? Senate Democrats say they won't back House bill">Government shutdown soon? Senate Democrats say they won't back House bill</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/11/house-passes-government-spending-bill/7231741737898/" target="_blank" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Related Article', 'US News');" title="House passes spending bill to avert government shutdown">House passes spending bill to avert government shutdown</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/14/doctor-oz-senate-hearing-medicare-medicaid/5801741973438/" target="_blank" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Related Article', 'US News');" title="At Senate hearing, Dr. Oz says he sees 'generational opportunity' for healthcare fixes">At Senate hearing, Dr. Oz says he sees 'generational opportunity' for healthcare fixes</a></li></ul></div></p> <p>Senate minority leader <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Chuck_Schumer/" target="_blank" title="Chuck Schumer" class="tpstyle">Chuck Schumer</a> was among nine Democrats and one independent to approve a motion to end the filibuster 62-38. Paul of Kentucky was the lone Republican to vote against the cloture to end debate. <div class="mt-5 text-center mb-5" style="min-height: 305px;"><div class="ad_tag">Advertisement</div><div class="upi-content"></div></div></p> <p>Other Democrats voting for cloture were <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Dick_Durbin/" target="_blank" title="Dick Durbin" class="tpstyle">Dick Durbin</a> of Illinois, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Kristen Gillibrand of New York, Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Catherine Cortez Masto of Hawaii, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Gary_Peters/" target="_blank" title="Gary Peters" class="tpstyle">Gary Peters</a> of Michigan, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. King also approved the cloture.</p> <p>There are 53 Republicans, so help to end the filibusters was needed from Democrats. In some matters, including the funding bill, only a majority vote is needed with the Senate president, usually the vice president, breaking the tie.</p> <p>The Senate voted on the six-month government funding bill that was passed by the House, which adjourned until March 24.</p> <p>The 99-page bill includes a slight increase in military spending but a $13 billion cut in domestic nondefense spending.</p> <p>Schumer announced on the Senate floor on Thursday that he would be voting for it.</p> <p>He explained his <a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-administration-presidency-03-14-2025/index.html?t=1741994738622" target="_blank">vote to CNN</a> on Friday.</p> <p>"My job as leader is to lead the party and if there's going to be danger in the near future, to protect the party," he said. "And I'm proud I did it. I knew I did the right thing, and I knew there would be some disagreements. That's how it always is." <div class="mt-5 text-center mb-5" style="min-height: 305px;"><div class="ad_tag">Advertisement</div><div class="upi-content"></div></div></p> <p>Senate Majority Leader <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/John_Thune/" target="_blank" title="John Thune" class="tpstyle">John Thune</a> said Friday morning he expected the chamber would avert a shutdown.</p> <p>"The sooner we get this wrapped up the better, honestly, but you know, obviously it's somewhat dictated by the tempo the Democrats are dictating," Thune said.</p> <p>On Friday, President Donald Trump praised Schumer, <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump" target="_blank">writing on Truth Social</a>: "Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing - Took 'guts' and courage! The big Tax Cuts, L.A. fire fix, Debt Ceiling Bill, and so much more, is coming. We should all work together on that very dangerous situation. A non pass would be a Country destroyer, approval will lead us to new heights. Again, really good and smart move by Senator Schumer. This could lead to something big for the USA, a whole new direction and beginning!"</p> <p>The CR bill, which will fund the federal government through Sept. 30, passed the House on Tuesday almost exactly on party lines at 217-213, with one Democrat voting for and one GOP member against.</p> <p>House Democrats largely remain against the CR, as <a href="https://x.com/RepJeffries/status/1900375732804628931" target="_blank">a statement released Thursday</a> by their leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., stated that Democrats in Congress "remain strongly opposed to the partisan spending bill under consideration in the Senate." <div class="mt-5 text-center mb-5" style="min-height: 305px;"><div class="ad_tag">Advertisement</div><div class="upi-content"></div></div></p> <p>U.S. Rep., <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Nancy_Pelosi/" target="_blank" title="Nancy Pelosi" class="tpstyle">Nancy Pelosi</a> of California, who was aligned with Schumer when she was the House Speaker until 2023, criticized Senate Democrats backing the GOP funding bill.</p> <p>"Donald Trump and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Elon_Musk/" target="_blank" title="Elon Musk" class="tpstyle">Elon Musk</a> have offered the Congress a false choice between a government shutdown or a blank check that makes a devastating assault on the well-being of working families across America," she said in a <a href="https://x.com/SpeakerPelosi/status/1900577971502817354" target="_blank">statement on X.</a></p> <p>House Democrats, with their session adjourned, gathered 40 miles away in Leesburg, Va., at their annual policy retreat.</p> <p>More than 50 House Democrats <a href="https://tran.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/tran.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/quill-letter-%23l23459-dem-caucus-letter-to-sen-schumer-re-cr-version-%233-03-14-2025-%40-12-20-pm.pdf" target="_blank">signed a letter</a> critical of Schumer, including fellow New Yorker, Ocasio-Cortez, who called the decision "a tremendous mistake." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rep-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-blasts-schumer-gop-funding/story?id=119793415" target="_blank">ABC News reported</a> some Democrats are calling for her to primary him in the next election in 2028.</p> <p>"What voting for the CR does is that it codifies the chaos and the reckless cuts that Elon Musk has been pursuing," Ocasio-Cortez said. "The robbing of our federal government in order to finance tax cuts for billionaires, is what is happening, and that is what Senate Democrats will be empowering if they vote for the CR."</p> <p>Schumer <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5194156-schumer-gop-funding-bill-shutdown/" target="_blank">spoke on the Senate floor</a> Thursday, saying that Democrats had tried to offer "a way out" of the possible bill failure, a stopgap measure to fund the government for another month, but Republicans rejected that proposal "outright." He accused Trump of wanting "full control of government spending," and forcing GOP senators "to cower into submission" instead of working out a CR that would be more agreeable to both parties. <div class="mt-5 text-center mb-5" style="min-height: 305px;"><div class="ad_tag">Advertisement</div><div class="upi-content"></div></div></p> <p>He said a shutdown would give Trump and Elon Musk, who runs the Department of Government Efficiency, "full authority to deem whole agencies, programs and personnel non-essential, furloughing staff with no promise they would ever be rehired," leaving the decision of what would be considered essential "solely" to the Executive branch, "with nobody left at the agencies left to check them."</p> <p>Democrats were pushing for a 30-day continuing resolution.</p> <p>Their private caucus meetings became hostile.</p> <p>This week, CNN reported Colorado Sen. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Michael-Bennet/" target="_blank" title="Michael Bennet" class="tpstyle">Michael Bennet</a> got angry during one of the Senate Democrats' private meetings.</p> <p>Two sources said that Bennet accused Senate Democratic leadership of having "no strategy, no plan and no message" on the spending bill.</p> <p><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tina-Smith/" target="_blank" title="Tina Smith" class="tpstyle">Tina Smith</a> of Minnesota <a href="https://www.smith.senate.gov/u-s-senator-tina-smith-voting-no-on-dangerous-republican-spending-bill/" target="_blank">said in a statement</a>: "This bill we are voting on is not a 'clean Continuing Resolution,' and it does not continue the spending and policy law that Congress passed last year," she said in noting funding would be slashed for health needs.</p> <p>"President Trump and House Republicans wrote this bill on their own, with no consideration for my views or any of my Democratic colleagues, and they will own the consequences. From the beginning, President Trump and the Republicans set this up as an unprecedented power grab." <div class="mt-5 text-center mb-5" style="min-height: 305px;"><div class="ad_tag">Advertisement</div><div class="upi-content"></div></div></p> <p>Sen. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Patty_Murray/" target="_blank" title="Patty Murray" class="tpstyle">Patty Murray</a> of Washington said the bill gives the Trump administration too much flexibility in how to spend funds. She called it "slush funds for the Trump administration to reshape spending priorities, eliminate longstanding programs, pick winners and losers."</p> <p>Fetterman <a href="https://x.com/SenFettermanPA/status/1899995998803341430" target="_blank">announced Wednesday on X</a> that "I will never vote to shut the government down." He was the first Democrat to support the measure.</p> <p>He told CNN: "There are going to be people that are going to vote no on this, but they will be free riders because they know, secretly, they know that shutting the government down is (going) to be a disaster."</p> </article> <div class="read-more-about"> <ul> <li>Topics</li> <li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Politics/">Politics</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Chuck_Schumer/">Chuck Schumer</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Donald_Trump/">Donald Trump</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Mark_Kelly/">Mark Kelly</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tim_Kaine/">Tim Kaine</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Mark_Warner/">Mark Warner</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/John_Hickenlooper/">John Hickenlooper</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Patty_Murray/">Patty Murray</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Cory_Booker/">Cory Booker</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Elon_Musk/">Elon Musk</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/John_Thune/">John Thune</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez/">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tina-Smith/">Tina Smith</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Bernie_Sanders/">Bernie Sanders</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Kirsten_Gillibrand/">Kirsten Gillibrand</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Michael-Bennet/">Michael Bennet</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Rand_Paul/">Rand Paul</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Dick_Durbin/">Dick Durbin</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Gary_Peters/">Gary Peters</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jeanne_Shaheen/">Jeanne Shaheen</a></li><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Nancy_Pelosi/">Nancy Pelosi</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="rcjs_load_x9cnswitch" data-rc-widget data-widget-id="170311" data-endpoint="trends.revcontent.com"></div> <div id="4d25d2d8-9091-49ff-8049-f867cc981c30"></div> <script data-ll="650" data-src="//player.ex.co/player/4d25d2d8-9091-49ff-8049-f867cc981c30" charset="utf-8" id="exco-player"></script> <div class="sections"> <div class="sections-header m-t-20"><div class="widget-header"><h3 class="l-s-25">Latest Headlines</h3></div></div> <div class="row story list m-t-30"> <div class="col-md-12"> <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/14/Trump-DOJ-FBI-speech/2821741982259/" title="Trump touts law-and-order vision, sounds off on past grievances with DOJ, FBI" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Latest Headline', 'US News');" class="row"> <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-4"> <img class="lazy" src="/img/clear.gif" data-src="https://cdnph.upi.com/ph/st/th/2821741982259/2025/upi/b4fceb90d3d7f6749314b2c677696ab3/v1.2/Trump-touts-law-and-order-vision-sounds-off-on-past-grievances-with-DOJ-FBI.jpg?stfi=1" title="Trump touts law-and-order vision, sounds off on past grievances with DOJ, FBI" alt="Trump touts law-and-order vision, sounds off on past grievances with DOJ, FBI" width="200" height="166" style="width:200px; height: 166px;"> </div> <div class="col-md-8 col-sm-8 col-xs-8"> <div class="category"><span>U.S. News</span> <i class="time-ago">// 2 hours ago</i></div> <div class="title">Trump touts law-and-order vision, sounds off on past grievances with DOJ, FBI</div> <div class="content"> March 14 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Friday laid out his vision for the Department of Justice and the FBI, in a law-and-order talk that resembled a political speech.</div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><hr></div> </a> </div> <div class="col-md-12"> <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/14/NY-Sean-Diddy-Coms-superseding-indictment-sex-acts/2571741982653/" title="Sean 'Diddy' Combs pleads not guilty to new charges in racketeering, sex-trafficking case" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Latest Headline', 'US News');" class="row"> <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-4"> <img class="lazy" src="/img/clear.gif" data-src="https://cdnph.upi.com/ph/st/th/2571741982653/2025/upi/89e154be44176dd0fec91459f36684bc/v1.2/Sean-Diddy-Combs-pleads-not-guilty-to-new-charges-in-racketeering-sex-trafficking-case.jpg?stfi=1" title="Sean 'Diddy' Combs pleads not guilty to new charges in racketeering, sex-trafficking case" alt="Sean 'Diddy' Combs pleads not guilty to new charges in racketeering, sex-trafficking case" width="200" height="166" style="width:200px; height: 166px;"> </div> <div class="col-md-8 col-sm-8 col-xs-8"> <div class="category"><span>U.S. News</span> <i class="time-ago">// 3 hours ago</i></div> <div class="title">Sean 'Diddy' Combs pleads not guilty to new charges in racketeering, sex-trafficking case</div> <div class="content"> March 14 (UPI) -- Sean "Diddy" Combs pleaded not guilty Friday in New York to a superseding indictment that charges him with forcing one of his employees into sex acts.</div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><hr></div> </a> </div> <div class="col-md-12"> <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/14/weather-texas-new-mexico-wind-storm-march-2025/8631741982940/" title="Brutal wind ravages Texas Panhandle, flipping big rigs, downing trees, blowing dust" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Latest Headline', 'US News');" class="row"> <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-4"> <img class="lazy" src="/img/clear.gif" data-src="https://cdnph.upi.com/ph/st/th/8631741982940/2025/upi/9a7a90d899d977ca4a7438ea7883ba7b/v1.2/Brutal-wind-ravages-Texas-Panhandle-flipping-big-rigs-downing-trees-blowing-dust.jpg?stfi=1" title="Brutal wind ravages Texas Panhandle, flipping big rigs, downing trees, blowing dust" alt="Brutal wind ravages Texas Panhandle, flipping big rigs, downing trees, blowing dust" width="200" height="166" style="width:200px; height: 166px;"> </div> <div class="col-md-8 col-sm-8 col-xs-8"> <div class="category"><span>U.S. News</span> <i class="time-ago">// 3 hours ago</i></div> <div class="title">Brutal wind ravages Texas Panhandle, flipping big rigs, downing trees, blowing dust</div> <div class="content"> Powerful winds tore through the New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle on Friday, with gusts approaching 100 mph in some places.</div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><hr></div> </a> </div> <div class="col-md-12"> <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/14/maryland-adnan-syed-resentenced-probation-serial-podcast/1651741976129/" title="'Serial' podcast subject Adnan Syed resentenced to probation after murder conviction in 2000" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Latest Headline', 'US News');" class="row"> <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-4"> <img class="lazy" src="/img/clear.gif" data-src="https://cdnph.upi.com/ph/st/th/1651741976129/2025/upi_com/1c1532b48a8e42bb3cc9e412f96b93b6/v1.2/Serial-podcast-subject-Adnan-Syed-resentenced-to-probation-after-murder-conviction-in-2000.jpg?stfi=1" title="'Serial' podcast subject Adnan Syed resentenced to probation after murder conviction in 2000" alt="'Serial' podcast subject Adnan Syed resentenced to probation after murder conviction in 2000" width="200" height="166" style="width:200px; height: 166px;"> </div> <div class="col-md-8 col-sm-8 col-xs-8"> <div class="category"><span>U.S. News</span> <i class="time-ago">// 4 hours ago</i></div> <div class="title">'Serial' podcast subject Adnan Syed resentenced to probation after murder conviction in 2000</div> <div class="content"> March 14 (UPI) -- Adnan Syed on Friday was formally resentenced to five years probation after the judge ruled he shouldn't return to prison for a life sentence for the murder of his high school girlfriend found dead in Baltimore in 1999.</div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><hr></div> </a> </div> <div class="col-md-12"> <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/14/Title-VI-Education-Department-investigation/2151741966013/" title="Education Department probes more than 45 universities for Title VI violations" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Latest Headline', 'US News');" class="row"> <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-4"> <img class="lazy" src="/img/clear.gif" data-src="https://cdnph.upi.com/ph/st/th/2151741966013/2025/upi/e49cfab7dc2347b330140d3ca6ebe217/v1.2/Education-Department-probes-more-than-45-universities-for-Title-VI-violations.jpg?stfi=1" title="Education Department probes more than 45 universities for Title VI violations" alt="Education Department probes more than 45 universities for Title VI violations" width="200" height="166" style="width:200px; height: 166px;"> </div> <div class="col-md-8 col-sm-8 col-xs-8"> <div class="category"><span>U.S. News</span> <i class="time-ago">// 8 hours ago</i></div> <div class="title">Education Department probes more than 45 universities for Title VI violations</div> <div class="content"> March 14 (UPI) -- The United States Department of Education said Friday that has opened investigations into seven universities that are being accused of race-related improprieties.</div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><hr></div> </a> </div> <div class="col-md-12"> <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/14/FBI-Most-Wanted-List/3541741973938/" title="FBI's '10 Most Wanted Fugitives List' turns 75" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Latest Headline', 'US News');" class="row"> <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-4"> <img class="lazy" src="/img/clear.gif" data-src="https://cdnph.upi.com/ph/st/th/3541741973938/2025/upi/40066d8dd938a88b2b82f35a618e92da/v1.2/FBIs-10-Most-Wanted-Fugitives-List-turns-75.jpg?stfi=1" title="FBI's '10 Most Wanted Fugitives List' turns 75" alt="FBI's '10 Most Wanted Fugitives List' turns 75" width="200" height="166" style="width:200px; height: 166px;"> </div> <div class="col-md-8 col-sm-8 col-xs-8"> <div class="category"><span>U.S. News</span> <i class="time-ago">// 5 hours ago</i></div> <div class="title">FBI's '10 Most Wanted Fugitives List' turns 75</div> <div class="content"> March 14 (UPI) -- On Friday, the FBI marked the 75th anniversary of its "10 Most Wanted Fugitives List," which has led to the discovery and capture of some of the more notorious people wanted for crimes in recent history.</div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><hr></div> </a> </div> <div class="col-md-12"> <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/14/doctor-oz-senate-hearing-medicare-medicaid/5801741973438/" title="At Senate hearing, Dr. Oz says he sees 'generational opportunity' for healthcare fixes" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Latest Headline', 'US News');" class="row"> <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-4"> <img class="lazy" src="/img/clear.gif" data-src="https://cdnph.upi.com/ph/st/th/5801741973438/2025/upi/a4a1203e896cc31f4806728d35a2a65d/v1.2/At-Senate-hearing-Dr-Oz-says-he-sees-generational-opportunity-for-healthcare-fixes.jpg?stfi=1" title="At Senate hearing, Dr. Oz says he sees 'generational opportunity' for healthcare fixes" alt="At Senate hearing, Dr. Oz says he sees 'generational opportunity' for healthcare fixes" width="200" height="166" style="width:200px; height: 166px;"> </div> <div class="col-md-8 col-sm-8 col-xs-8"> <div class="category"><span>U.S. News</span> <i class="time-ago">// 6 hours ago</i></div> <div class="title">At Senate hearing, Dr. Oz says he sees 'generational opportunity' for healthcare fixes</div> <div class="content"> March 14 (UPI) -- Fixing the American healthcare system would be a top priority for Dr. Mehmet Oz, the former TV show host told the Senate Finance Committee during his confirmation hearing Friday.</div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><hr></div> </a> </div> <div class="col-md-12"> <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/14/Education-Department-class-action-McMahon-Trump/7211741970913/" title="Class-action suit filed against Education Department for alleged self-obstruction" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Latest Headline', 'US News');" class="row"> <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-4"> <img class="lazy" src="/img/clear.gif" data-src="https://cdnph.upi.com/ph/st/th/7211741970913/2025/upi/987dacb6248f4a543e27d1358f4a7d6f/v1.2/Class-action-suit-filed-against-Education-Department-for-alleged-self-obstruction.jpg?stfi=1" title="Class-action suit filed against Education Department for alleged self-obstruction" alt="Class-action suit filed against Education Department for alleged self-obstruction" width="200" height="166" style="width:200px; height: 166px;"> </div> <div class="col-md-8 col-sm-8 col-xs-8"> <div class="category"><span>U.S. News</span> <i class="time-ago">// 6 hours ago</i></div> <div class="title">Class-action suit filed against Education Department for alleged self-obstruction</div> <div class="content"> March 14 (UPI) -- The nonprofit Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates filed a class-action lawsuit Friday against the United States Department of Education for allegedly obstructing its own Office for Civil Rights.</div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><hr></div> </a> </div> <div class="col-md-12"> <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/14/wyoming-senator-alan-simpson-dead/3081741969957/" title="Former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson dies at 93" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Latest Headline', 'US News');" class="row"> <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-4"> <img class="lazy" src="/img/clear.gif" data-src="https://cdnph.upi.com/ph/st/th/3081741969957/2025/upi/52e7bcd79e3184779379285a9b464fa7/v1.2/Former-US-Sen-Alan-Simpson-dies-at-93.jpg?stfi=1" title="Former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson dies at 93" alt="Former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson dies at 93" width="200" height="166" style="width:200px; height: 166px;"> </div> <div class="col-md-8 col-sm-8 col-xs-8"> <div class="category"><span>U.S. News</span> <i class="time-ago">// 7 hours ago</i></div> <div class="title">Former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson dies at 93</div> <div class="content"> March 14 (UPI) -- Former Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson died Friday, following complications from a broken hip. He was 93 years old.</div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><hr></div> </a> </div> <div class="col-md-12"> <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/14/Consumer-sentiment-falls-University-Michigan-Hsu/2791741966883/" title="U.S. consumer sentiment falls for third straight month amid tariff, inflation worries" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Latest Headline', 'US News');" class="row"> <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-4"> <img class="lazy" src="/img/clear.gif" data-src="https://cdnph.upi.com/ph/st/th/2791741966883/2025/upi/3b47e332b2a275e1024482e165fc2695/v1.2/US-consumer-sentiment-falls-for-third-straight-month-amid-tariff-inflation-worries.jpg?stfi=1" title="U.S. consumer sentiment falls for third straight month amid tariff, inflation worries" alt="U.S. consumer sentiment falls for third straight month amid tariff, inflation worries" width="200" height="166" style="width:200px; height: 166px;"> </div> <div class="col-md-8 col-sm-8 col-xs-8"> <div class="category"><span>U.S. News</span> <i class="time-ago">// 8 hours ago</i></div> <div class="title">U.S. consumer sentiment falls for third straight month amid tariff, inflation worries</div> <div class="content"> March 14 (UPI) -- American consumer sentiment fell another 11% in March, according to a University of Michigan survey released Friday. It fell to 57.9, the lowest confidence level in the economy since 2022.</div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><hr></div> </a> </div> </div> </div> <br><span class="story_dl">March 14 (UPI) --</span> The U.S. Senate on Friday night averted a looming midnight shutdown of the federal government by passing a funding bill after approving a key procedural vote with the support of enough Democrats.<br>The <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00133.htm" target="_blank">measure passed 54-46</a>, nearly along party lines, with Democrat <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jeanne_Shaheen/" target="_blank" title="Jeanne Shaheen" class="tpstyle">Jeanne Shaheen</a> of New Hampshire and independent Angus King voting yes and Republican <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Rand_Paul/" target="_blank" title="Rand Paul" class="tpstyle">Rand Paul</a> of Kentucky voting no. <div class="mt-5 text-center mb-5" style="min-height: 305px;"><div class="ad_tag">Advertisement</div><div class="upi-content"></div></div><br>The bill now goes to President <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Donald_Trump/" target="_blank" title="Donald Trump" class="tpstyle">Donald Trump</a>, who flew to his Mar-a-Lago estate from Washington, D.C., early Friday evening.<br>The earlier vote to end the filibuster needed to be approved by at least 60 senators. <div class="read-more-inline lato"><h3 class="arimo bold">Related</h3> <ul><li><a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/12/spending-bill-Democrat-Republican-shutdown/1071741800170/" target="_blank" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Related Article', 'US News');" title="Government shutdown soon? Senate Democrats say they won't back House bill">Government shutdown soon? Senate Democrats say they won't back House bill</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/11/house-passes-government-spending-bill/7231741737898/" target="_blank" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Related Article', 'US News');" title="House passes spending bill to avert government shutdown">House passes spending bill to avert government shutdown</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/14/doctor-oz-senate-hearing-medicare-medicaid/5801741973438/" target="_blank" onclick="upi_gtag('Story', 'Related Article', 'US News');" title="At Senate hearing, Dr. Oz says he sees 'generational opportunity' for healthcare fixes">At Senate hearing, Dr. Oz says he sees 'generational opportunity' for healthcare fixes</a></li></ul></div><br>Senate minority leader <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Chuck_Schumer/" target="_blank" title="Chuck Schumer" class="tpstyle">Chuck Schumer</a> was among nine Democrats and one independent to approve a motion to end the filibuster 62-38. Paul of Kentucky was the lone Republican to vote against the cloture to end debate. <div class="mt-5 text-center mb-5" style="min-height: 305px;"><div class="ad_tag">Advertisement</div><div class="upi-content"></div></div><br>Other Democrats voting for cloture were <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Dick_Durbin/" target="_blank" title="Dick Durbin" class="tpstyle">Dick Durbin</a> of Illinois, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Kristen Gillibrand of New York, Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Catherine Cortez Masto of Hawaii, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Gary_Peters/" target="_blank" title="Gary Peters" class="tpstyle">Gary Peters</a> of Michigan, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. King also approved the cloture.<br>There are 53 Republicans, so help to end the filibusters was needed from Democrats. In some matters, including the funding bill, only a majority vote is needed with the Senate president, usually the vice president, breaking the tie.<br>The Senate voted on the six-month government funding bill that was passed by the House, which adjourned until March 24.<br>The 99-page bill includes a slight increase in military spending but a $13 billion cut in domestic nondefense spending.<br>Schumer announced on the Senate floor on Thursday that he would be voting for it.<br>He explained his <a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-administration-presidency-03-14-2025/index.html?t=1741994738622" target="_blank">vote to CNN</a> on Friday.<br>"My job as leader is to lead the party and if there's going to be danger in the near future, to protect the party," he said. "And I'm proud I did it. I knew I did the right thing, and I knew there would be some disagreements. That's how it always is." <div class="mt-5 text-center mb-5" style="min-height: 305px;"><div class="ad_tag">Advertisement</div><div class="upi-content"></div></div><br>Senate Majority Leader <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/John_Thune/" target="_blank" title="John Thune" class="tpstyle">John Thune</a> said Friday morning he expected the chamber would avert a shutdown.<br>"The sooner we get this wrapped up the better, honestly, but you know, obviously it's somewhat dictated by the tempo the Democrats are dictating," Thune said.<br>On Friday, President Donald Trump praised Schumer, <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump" target="_blank">writing on Truth Social</a>: "Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing - Took 'guts' and courage! The big Tax Cuts, L.A. fire fix, Debt Ceiling Bill, and so much more, is coming. We should all work together on that very dangerous situation. A non pass would be a Country destroyer, approval will lead us to new heights. Again, really good and smart move by Senator Schumer. This could lead to something big for the USA, a whole new direction and beginning!"<br>The CR bill, which will fund the federal government through Sept. 30, passed the House on Tuesday almost exactly on party lines at 217-213, with one Democrat voting for and one GOP member against.<br>House Democrats largely remain against the CR, as <a href="https://x.com/RepJeffries/status/1900375732804628931" target="_blank">a statement released Thursday</a> by their leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., stated that Democrats in Congress "remain strongly opposed to the partisan spending bill under consideration in the Senate." <div class="mt-5 text-center mb-5" style="min-height: 305px;"><div class="ad_tag">Advertisement</div><div class="upi-content"></div></div><br>U.S. Rep., <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Nancy_Pelosi/" target="_blank" title="Nancy Pelosi" class="tpstyle">Nancy Pelosi</a> of California, who was aligned with Schumer when she was the House Speaker until 2023, criticized Senate Democrats backing the GOP funding bill.<br>"Donald Trump and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Elon_Musk/" target="_blank" title="Elon Musk" class="tpstyle">Elon Musk</a> have offered the Congress a false choice between a government shutdown or a blank check that makes a devastating assault on the well-being of working families across America," she said in a <a href="https://x.com/SpeakerPelosi/status/1900577971502817354" target="_blank">statement on X.</a><br>House Democrats, with their session adjourned, gathered 40 miles away in Leesburg, Va., at their annual policy retreat.<br>More than 50 House Democrats <a href="https://tran.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/tran.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/quill-letter-%23l23459-dem-caucus-letter-to-sen-schumer-re-cr-version-%233-03-14-2025-%40-12-20-pm.pdf" target="_blank">signed a letter</a> critical of Schumer, including fellow New Yorker, Ocasio-Cortez, who called the decision "a tremendous mistake." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rep-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-blasts-schumer-gop-funding/story?id=119793415" target="_blank">ABC News reported</a> some Democrats are calling for her to primary him in the next election in 2028.<br>"What voting for the CR does is that it codifies the chaos and the reckless cuts that Elon Musk has been pursuing," Ocasio-Cortez said. "The robbing of our federal government in order to finance tax cuts for billionaires, is what is happening, and that is what Senate Democrats will be empowering if they vote for the CR."<br>Schumer <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5194156-schumer-gop-funding-bill-shutdown/" target="_blank">spoke on the Senate floor</a> Thursday, saying that Democrats had tried to offer "a way out" of the possible bill failure, a stopgap measure to fund the government for another month, but Republicans rejected that proposal "outright." He accused Trump of wanting "full control of government spending," and forcing GOP senators "to cower into submission" instead of working out a CR that would be more agreeable to both parties. <div class="mt-5 text-center mb-5" style="min-height: 305px;"><div class="ad_tag">Advertisement</div><div class="upi-content"></div></div><br>He said a shutdown would give Trump and Elon Musk, who runs the Department of Government Efficiency, "full authority to deem whole agencies, programs and personnel non-essential, furloughing staff with no promise they would ever be rehired," leaving the decision of what would be considered essential "solely" to the Executive branch, "with nobody left at the agencies left to check them."<br>Democrats were pushing for a 30-day continuing resolution.<br>Their private caucus meetings became hostile.<br>This week, CNN reported Colorado Sen. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Michael-Bennet/" target="_blank" title="Michael Bennet" class="tpstyle">Michael Bennet</a> got angry during one of the Senate Democrats' private meetings.<br>Two sources said that Bennet accused Senate Democratic leadership of having "no strategy, no plan and no message" on the spending bill.<br><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tina-Smith/" target="_blank" title="Tina Smith" class="tpstyle">Tina Smith</a> of Minnesota <a href="https://www.smith.senate.gov/u-s-senator-tina-smith-voting-no-on-dangerous-republican-spending-bill/" target="_blank">said in a statement</a>: "This bill we are voting on is not a 'clean Continuing Resolution,' and it does not continue the spending and policy law that Congress passed last year," she said in noting funding would be slashed for health needs.<br>"President Trump and House Republicans wrote this bill on their own, with no consideration for my views or any of my Democratic colleagues, and they will own the consequences. From the beginning, President Trump and the Republicans set this up as an unprecedented power grab." <div class="mt-5 text-center mb-5" style="min-height: 305px;"><div class="ad_tag">Advertisement</div><div class="upi-content"></div></div><br>Sen. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Patty_Murray/" target="_blank" title="Patty Murray" class="tpstyle">Patty Murray</a> of Washington said the bill gives the Trump administration too much flexibility in how to spend funds. She called it "slush funds for the Trump administration to reshape spending priorities, eliminate longstanding programs, pick winners and losers."<br>Fetterman <a href="https://x.com/SenFettermanPA/status/1899995998803341430" target="_blank">announced Wednesday on X</a> that "I will never vote to shut the government down." He was the first Democrat to support the measure.<br>He told CNN: "There are going to be people that are going to vote no on this, but they will be free riders because they know, secretly, they know that shutting the government down is (going) to be a disaster."<br><br><a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimAFBVV95cUxNSHpDN3g5czkyUlJWVnJQWTY4WTJqVDgxQ3hVR1REbUJ1WXVxdkp0ekFEM1p3TXB2eVo4U0Rqb0xOcmR3a2xiYXN1Qmc2bC1EN1lsS0FxVnpKTzlMYWRmOFJvOTlwNEt3anFBWWhZcnNfSk1vWV9keHBPby1jRERIN0RSMHZzZldSYlY0dFJuN3BfRUVHS1dBTdIBngFBVV95cUxNZU9fZnU5bzUwVEh6WHVYM1prSmpDT1Fsb0FkRTRubmthc29mVF9xZjdULTBmZ0twb2hOc2ZiMWE4TEJCalh5Z21aVEZ5TW15dUtGM2dURGFCTFRmeXdsQ2dEQ2xxRmJoa29fWW5KRENUREFWM0lrWFQxQkotT0E4QlV2NXFOanFQQVFLWDBFYlhxZ3NDY2NFaFJrNU1Tdw?oc=5">source</a>
