US avoids government shutdown after bill passes

The Democratic-controlled US Senate has voted to pass a budget deal to avert what would be the first US federal government shutdown since 2019, only hours after the House of Representatives approved the same legislation.

The budget deal was passed shortly after a midnight deadline passed.

It does not include a demand from President-elect Donald Trump that lawmakers increase how much money the federal government can borrow, showing the limits of his ability to command lawmakers from his own party.

The bill now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. A statement from Biden's spokeswoman released earlier on Friday night said that he approved of the deal.

Lawmakers earlier this week had successfully negotiated a deal to fund government agencies but it fell apart after Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk called on Republicans to reject it.

The bill approved by Congress is the third one lawmakers voted on this week, after members of Congress voted down two earlier drafts.