U.S. Senate reaches last-minute deal to avoid shutdown

The Senate reached a deal to avoid a government shutdown late Wednesday.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he had scheduled a vote on the stopgap measure for Thursday morning. The bill would keep the government running into early December but would still need to pass the House.

Federal funding was set to lapse if Congress failed to pass an appropriations plan before midnight Thursday.

 “With so many critical issues to address, the last thing the American people need right now is a government shutdown,” Schumer said Wednesday.

A lapse in funding could lead to federal worker furloughs and a reduction in services. The Biden administration’s Office of Management and Budget has sent shutdown guidance to agencies ahead of the funding deadline.