A federal judge ordered the federal government to rehire thousands of employees dismissed from six agencies, saying the Trump administration’s justification for firing the probationary workers had been a “sham.

As of Wednesday night, it looked like a path was emerging whereby Senate Democrats would abandon plans to filibuster the House-passed spending bill (known as a CR, for “continuing resolution”) needed to keep the government from shutting down midnight on Friday.

Live updates and the latest news as the Senate turns to a government funding bill to avoid a shutdown and Trump's pick to lead the CDC gets a confirmation hearing.

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) said on the Senate floor Wednesday that not enough Democrats support the Republican-led funding measure that passed the House on Tuesday. With days to go until a shutdown deadline,