The U.S. Senate approved a budget bill to prevent a federal government shutdown. The budget bill that provides funding for the federal government until September 30 was put to a vote in the Senate. The bill was approved with 54 votes in favor and 46 against in the Senate. With hours left before the expiration of the current temporary budget providing funding for the government until midnight on Friday, the bill passed in the Senate will be presented to President Donald Trump for signing into law. The bill includes approximately $6 billion increase in defense spending, while non-defense spending is expected to be cut by around $13 billion. The budget bill was sent to the Senate after being approved in the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives with 217 votes in favor and 213 against on Tuesday. Senate Democrats had sought to pass a one-month temporary budget bill to buy time for more comprehensive budget negotiations, but this request did not receive support from Republicans. Senate Minority Leader Democrat Chuck Schumer expressed his disapproval of the bill, but stated that he would not block the passage of the budget bill in the Senate, noting that the consequences of a government shutdown would be far worse. WHAT DOES A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN MEAN? According to American laws, if Congress fails to approve the budget for the entire fiscal year that begins on October 1 and ends on September 30, temporary budgets must be used to cover the period until this happens. During periods when the budget is not approved, the federal government loses spending authority and is required to cease all activities except for essential services. Non-essential government employees are put on mandatory leave while government workers in critical sectors such as the U.S. military, intelligence agencies, doctors and nurses in public hospitals, airport personnel, and security guards in prisons continue their duties. These employees categorized as “essential personnel” typically do not receive their salaries during shutdown periods until Congress passes a new budget.