WASHINGTON—The Senate headed toward a vote Friday advancing a Republican measure to fund the government through September, as heartsick Democrats implored Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.

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.

By Richard Cowan, Bo Erickson and Gabriella Borter WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate on Friday passed a stopgap spending bill, averting a partial government shutdown, after Democrats backed down in a standoff driven by anger over President Donald Trump's campaign to slash the federal workforce.