WASHINGTON: The US Senate will vote on an emergency short-term spending bill introduced by Republicans Wednesday that averts a government shutdown, but does not include funding that President Donald Trump sought for a US-Mexico border wall.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told colleagues that the measure "will provide the resources necessary to continue normal operations through February 8th," avoiding a potentially crippling closure of some federal offices over next week's coming Christmas holiday.
"We need the government to remain open for the American people. We need to wrap up our work for this year," McConnell said.
The bill would need to pass the Senate and House of Representatives, then be signed by Trump before midnight Friday, when funding is set to expire for key agencies like the Department of Homeland Security.
McConnell's move follows a softening of Trump's position on demanding $5 billion in border wall funding, and comes a day after Democratic leaders rejected a longer-term Republican offer that would have increased border security.
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