Minority Leader Chuck Schumer took to the Senate floor Friday morning to defend his decision to support a Republican short-term funding bill that will effectively help avoid a government shutdown at the end of the day.

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.

Veteran Democrats privately believed Chuck Schumer’s decision on the shutdown was inevitable. Others were ready for the top Senate Democrat to lead them into their first big battle against President Donald Trump — and instead have been left fuming.