Politico, CNN and Punchbowl first reported that congressional leaders had agreed on what is called a “continuing resolution” or “CR,” that would fund the government – extending two deadlines through March 1 and March 8.

A spokesman for the Senate’s Democratic majority leader, Chuck Schumer, said a text of the spending deal is expected to be posted online on Sunday. A second source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the earlier reports were accurate.

Funding expires on Jan 19 for some federal agencies, including the transportation department, while others like the defence department face a Feb 2 deadline.

The top Democrat and Republican in Congress reached a US$1.59 trillion deal on Jan 7 to fund the government through the current fiscal year, but if they fail to pass it by Jan 19, parts of the federal government would begin to shut down.

Some lawmakers have said a short-term funding bill was needed to allow bipartisan negotiators from the House and Senate time to agree on full-year fiscal 2024 spending bills and for Congress to enact the legislation.

On Thursday, Schumer took the first procedural step to pass a stopgap funding bill through the Senate early next week to give lawmakers more time to pass the full-year bill.

The US came close to a partial government shutdown last autumn amid opposition by the hardline House Republicans who ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy over reaching a bipartisan stopgap spending deal with Schumer.