US Senate approves stopgap funding bill to avert government shutdown

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — The US Senate approved a stopgap spending measure on Thursday to keep the federal government funded through December 11, moving to head off a shutdown ahead of November’s midterm elections. The bill largely maintains current funding levels after the fiscal year ended on September 30, while including a series of negotiated exceptions. The legislation blocks a Trump administration proposal that would have given senior political appointees greater authority over federal grant decisions and prohibits the transfer of funds to a border security unit from other programs. It also rejects a $1 billion White House request for a new line of battleships proposed by President Donald Trump. A contested provision to ban certain synthetic hemp products, which had divided Republicans, was delayed by one month. During the overnight session, senators also advanced the nomination of Todd Blanche as attorney general and rejected a separate proposal that would have altered voter identification requirements. The measure now heads to the House of Representatives. If approved, Washington would avoid a pre-election shutdown, though a broader fight over spending levels and the administration’s grant-making authority is expected in December.