The U.S. Senate has approved a budget bill aimed at preventing a federal government shutdown. The bill, which provides funding for the federal government until September 30, was subjected to a vote in the Senate. It was passed with 54 votes in favor and 46 against. With the hours ticking away before the expiration of the current temporary budget that funds the government until midnight, the bill passed in the Senate will be presented to President Donald Trump for final approval. The bill includes an increase of approximately $6 billion in defense spending, and a cut of around $13 billion in non-defense spending. The budget bill had previously been passed in the House of Representatives with 217 votes in favor and 213 against on Tuesday, before being sent to the Senate. Democrats in the Senate had aimed to pass a one-month temporary budget bill to buy time for more comprehensive budget negotiations, but this request did not receive support from the Republicans. Senate Minority Leader Democrat Chuck Schumer expressed his dissatisfaction with the bill, but stated that a government shutdown would have worse consequences, so he did not plan to prevent the budget bill from passing in the Senate. WHAT DOES A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN MEAN? According to American laws, if Congress fails to approve the budget for the entire fiscal year, which starts on October 1 and ends on September 30, then temporary budgets are required to keep the government functioning until it can be approved. During periods when the budget is not approved, the federal government loses spending authority and is forced to cease all activities except for vital services. Non-essential public workers are placed on mandatory leave during this period, while employees such as the U.S. military, intelligence agencies, doctors and nurses working in public hospitals, airport staff, and prison security guards continue to carry out their duties. These employees classified as “essential personnel” typically do not receive their salaries during shutdown periods until Congress passes a new budget.