Congress closing in on partial budget deal ahead of shutdown deadline [Video]

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill could strike a partial budget deal to temporarily avert a government shutdown “as soon as today,” a source familiar with the negotiations said Wednesday.

Negotiators are working on an agreement for six funding bills, four of which expire Friday.

Congressional leaders have been optimistic so far about getting the deal settled, especially after a Tuesday White House meeting with President Joe Biden and Congress’ top four leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

“We are very close to getting it done,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday on the Senate floor.

But a partial shutdown is still not out of the question.

Should negotiations end Friday without a deal agreed upon, Johnson does not plan to sign a short-term spending bill to keep the government fully open this weekend, according to the person familiar.

The source said if talks “fall apart, there could be a shutdown.”

A partial shutdown would impact several …