Senate passes funding bill before government shutdown deadline

The Senate passed a spending bill late Friday, just hours before a government shutdown deadline. The vote was 54-46, with some Democratic support despite strong opposition. The bill now goes to President Trump for his signature. This legislation funds the government for six months, trimming non-defense spending by $13 billion while increasing defense spending by $6 billion. It gives the Trump administration more discretion over spending decisions, which many Democrats criticized as a "blank check." Democratic leaders faced pressure from their party to block the bill but ultimately chose to avoid a shutdown. The decision sparked frustration among some House Democrats, who felt it undermined their efforts to challenge the Trump administration.