The US Senate has approved a $1.2 trillion spending package, securing funding for the government until September and averting a potential shutdown just minutes before a midnight deadline.

While votes on various amendments are ongoing, the agreement ensures continuous funding for crucial government departments without interruption.

Expected to be signed by President Joe Biden on Saturday, this bipartisan agreement marks the culmination of intense negotiations, as described by Democrat Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer: “It has not been easy, but our persistence has been worth it.”

The bill’s passage brings an end to months of contentious debate between the two major parties, signaling a significant milestone in governmental operations.

The White House announced early Saturday that preparations for a shutdown had ceased, expressing confidence in Congress’s imminent passage of the bill and President Biden’s forthcoming approval.

Having already cleared the House of Representatives with a final vote of 286 to 134, just above the required two-thirds majority, the bill garnered support from nearly all Democrats, while facing opposition from 112 Republicans.

A faction of conservative lawmakers had voiced dissent over proposed increases in government spending and advocated for new legislation addressing US immigration laws amidst a surge of undocumented migrants at the southern border.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia sought to replace House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana over his support for the spending package, highlighting internal divisions within the Republican Party.

Friday’s House budget vote reflects a departure from recent trends, with a notable portion of House Republicans opposing a funding bill negotiated by their own party, signaling the complexities of bipartisan cooperation.