WASHINGTON - A partial government shutdown was avoided Friday when the Senate approved a bill to keep the government funded through the end of September. Senators sent the bill to President Donald Trump’s desk for approval in a 54-46 vote.

Congress averted a government shutdown Friday just hours before the funding deadline, after the Senate approved a House-passed spending bill that exposed deep rifts within the Democratic Party.

Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada were among the first Democrats to publicly back the Republican funding bill, arguing that a shutdown would only strengthen Trump’s hand. They were joined by six more Democrats—Dick Durbin of Illinois,

Ten Democrats voted to advance the continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through September, setting the stage for the Republican-led measure to pass