The US Senate has agreed a $1.2tn spending package that will fund the US government through September.

Legislators narrowly averted a partial shutdown of the government with minutes to go before a midnight deadline.

While votes on a series of amendments are expected to continue for several hours, the agreement means that there will be no lapse in funding to key government departments.

It should be ready to be signed by President Joe Biden on Saturday.

Democrat Senate majority leader Chuck Shumer said it had not been easy, but “our persistence has been worth it”.

“It is good for the American people that we have reached a bipartisan agreement to finish the job,” he said on the Senate floor.

The legislation will bring an end to months of acrimonious wrangling between the two main parties.

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