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.

Democrats found themselves in the middle of an all-out civil war on Friday as the Senate prepared to advance a six-month government funding bill to avert a shutdown set for midnight. The Republican-crafted legislation dramatically split Democrats,

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., arrives to speak with reporters as Republicans work to pass an interim spending bill that would avoid a partial government shutdown and keep federal agencies funded through September, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) AP

Schumer relented one day after he vowed Senate Democrats would thwart the "partisan" measure, saying the "chaos" of a government shutdown would be a worse option.

Dozens of House Democrats sent a letter to Schumer on Friday to express their “strong opposition” to his plan to back the Republican measure

The Senate passed a House-approved government funding bill that averts a government shutdown that was set to be triggered at the end of the day Friday.

Wyo., joins 'America Reports’ to discuss Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s decision to support the GOP spending package despite outrage from within his party.