US Senate passes bill to prevent shutdown

The US Senate has passed a short-term bill to avert a government shutdown, putting off a dispute between President Trump and Democrats over the border wall.

The US Senate has moved to avert a government shutdown, although the House must still agree. (AAP)

The US Senate has passed a short-term spending bill to avert a government shutdown just before Christmas.

The vote late on Wednesday means the government will be funded through February 8, but puts off till next year a dispute between President Donald Trump and the Democrats over funding for a border wall with Mexico.

Trump had earlier this month said he would be "proud to shut down the government for border security" and insisted that $5 billion in funding for the wall be included in the bill, a demand rejected by Democrats.

US President Donald Trump previously declared he was happy for the country to shut down for the border wall. Source: AP

On Wednesday his own Republican party dealt a blow to his ambitions by voting with Democrats in the Senate to pass the stopgap measure. Congress is expected to vote on the bill on Thursday.

Funding for federal authorities would otherwise have run out on Friday.

Finding the money for Trump's much-vaunted border wall will now face significant hurdles, as Democrats prepare to take control of the House in January following November's mid-term elections.