A group of Senate Democrats who threatened to delay a crucial government funding bill to win concessions for retired minors backed down Friday evening and pledged not to shut down the government.

“We are not going to shut down the government over this issue,” said Sen. Mark Warner Mark Robert WarnerIntelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings Overnight Defense: Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing l Air Force reveals it secretly built and flew new fighter jet l Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' House approves bill to secure internet-connected federal devices against cyber threats MORE (D) of Virginia, who appeared on the Senate floor with several Democratic colleagues, including Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump, GOP allies prepare for SCOTUS nomination this week Trump meets with potential Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett at White House Names to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court MORE (D) of West Virginia, who led the effort.

Warner made his statement hours after the group abruptly canceled a press conference intended to highlight their complaints about a provision for retired miners.

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The last-minute cancellation sparked talk that it might represent a positive development in talks to head off a shutdown, which would begin at midnight if the Senate does not approve funding legislation.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Senate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes MORE (R-Ky.) refused to change the measure, which the group of Democrats could have delayed beyond the midnight deadline by raising procedural objections. He noted the bill had passed the House by an overwhelming margin on Thursday and that lawmakers on the other side of the Capitol have already adjourned for the year.

Lawmakers have battled over a provision to extend health benefits to retired miners. The measure approved by the House to keep the government open would extend the benefits for four months, but Democrats led by Manchin and Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown Sherrod Campbell BrownSenate Democrats release report alleging Trump admin undermined fair housing policies Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Emboldened Democrats haggle over 2021 agenda MORE (D) want the extension to last the year.

McConnell also backs the yearlong extension, but GOP leaders in the House have said they did not have the votes to pass the measure with the one-year extension.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) has also voiced support for a one-year extension.

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Manchin spent Friday calling colleagues to urge them to vote against the funding bill, but he never appeared to have the 41 votes he needed to block it.

House earlier, Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (Texas) speculated that Manchin and his allies were flailing in search of an exit strategy.

“I think they’ve gotten themselves into a spot and they don’t know how to get themselves out ... because they’re not going to change the outcome,” Cornyn said.

“The question is do they want to be responsible for a government shutdown in the interim or not because the outcome is not gong to change.”

In the end, Manchin and his allies decided not to block the measure and force a temporary government shutdown. Instead, they pledged to vote against it. Nevertheless, the funding bill is expected to pass with bipartisan support.

The brewing chaos on Capitol Hill earlier in the day left the Obama administration uncertain about the outcome, as White House spokesman Eric Schultz announced preparations for a possible shutdown.

“If [the Office of Management and Budget] determines late Friday or early Saturday that a [continuing resolution] is not likely to be enacted we will issue instructions for agencies to proceed with their shutdown implementation,” he explained.

He said the preparations include the “orderly shutdown” of federal employees providing non-essential services, such as workers at the national parks.

- This story was updated at 6:20 p.m.