The US Senate on Friday passed a government funding bill designed to prevent a shutdown through the midterm elections. The measure, a continuing resolution (CR), passed with a 90-6 vote and would maintain government operations at current funding levels until 11 December.
The bill still requires approval from the House of Representatives. Republican Senate appropriations committee chair, Susan Collins, described the CR as "a major step toward averting a damaging shutdown that only harms vital programs and federal workers."
The House had previously approved a different CR last month, which proposed funding until 4 December. It is currently unclear which version will ultimately be adopted, as the House is on recess until the end of the month.
Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate appropriations committee, stated that the House's bill contained "several major issues" that the Senate's version addressed. The Senate CR would block a new White House rule until 11 December, which Democrats fear could allow the Trump administration to cancel grants without cause. It also aims to close a "loophole" in the House bill that Murray said would have permitted the White House to reallocate funds intended for other purposes to the border patrol.