WASHINGTON—The Senate headed toward a vote Friday advancing a Republican measure to fund the government through September, as heartsick Democrats implored Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.

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.

"This false choice that some are buying instead of fighting is unacceptable,” Rep. Nancy Pelosi said as Schumer cast his vote for an extreme GOP spending bill.