The legislation would apparently shield the D.C. government from a billion-dollar cut, but it would still need to be approved by the House.

The U.S. Senate on Friday night averted a looming midnight shutdown of federal government by passing a funding bill after approving a key procedural vote with the support of enough Democrats.

The Senate passed a House-approved government funding bill that averts a government shutdown that was set to be triggered at the end of the day Friday.