The US Senate plans to pass an emergency short-term spending bill as early as Wednesday that averts a looming government shutdown, but excludes the $5 billion that President Donald Trump sought for a US-Mexico border wall. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the measure would fund normal government operations at current levels through February 8, avoiding a potentially crippling closure of some federal offices over next week’s coming Christmas holiday. “We need the government to remain open for the American people.
