A partial US government shutdown is looming.

With a closing deadline of midnight (local time), the main negotiators of a Covid-19 economic aid package of almost $ 1 trillion pledge to seal a deal on Friday while they resolve the remaining differences in the hope of pass the legislation this weekend. .

The pressure increases. Government funding expires at midnight Friday and a low-impact partial shutdown would occur if Congress does not pass an interim spending bill by then. That’s not guaranteed, said Senate Republican Leader John Thune, who said some Republicans could block the interim measure to keep up the pressure if talks have not borne fruit.

But all parties seemed hopeful that last-minute disputes would not derail the legislation. After being stagnant for much of Thursday, negotiators grew more optimistic, although the complexity of finalizing outstanding issues and drafting agreements in precise legislative form was proving overwhelming.

But the core elements of a close commitment emerged: more than $ 300 billion in aid to businesses; a federal unemployment benefit bonus of $ 300 per week and renewal of state benefits that will expire soon; Direct payments of US $ 600 to individuals; vaccine distribution funds and money for tenants, schools, the postal service and people who need food assistance.

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Legislators were told to expect to be in session and voting this weekend.

“The new deadline is Friday,” said House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern, who expected the House to vote on Saturday.

The lockdowns involved an effort by Senate Conservative Pat Toomey to curb the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve’s emergency loan programs, a Democratic lawsuit to remove local government matching requirements for Covid-19-related disaster grants. and a myriad of smaller disagreements over non-pandemic announcements. -said legislators and assistants.

The delays were not unusual for legislation of this size and importance, but lawmakers are eager to leave Washington for the holidays and are eager.

The pending bill is the first significant legislative response to the pandemic since the landmark CARES Act was passed virtually unanimously in March, providing $ 1.8 trillion in aid and a more generous $ 600 a week in unemployment benefits and US $ 1200 direct payments to individuals.

The CARES legislation was passed at a time of great uncertainty and unprecedented closures in a failed attempt to curb the coronavirus, but after that, many Republicans focused more on loosening social and economic constraints as a key to recovery rather than more. taxpayer-funded aid.

Now Republicans are primarily motivated to extend business subsidies and some unemployment benefits, and provide money for schools and vaccinations. Democrats have focused on greater economic stimulus measures and more aid for those struggling financially during the pandemic. The urgency was underlined Thursday by weekly unemployment figures, which revealed that 885,000 people filed for unemployment benefits last week, the highest weekly total since September.

The pop-up package falls far short of the more than $ 2 trillion Democrats demanded this fall before the election, but President-elect Joe Biden is eager for an aid package to prop up the economy and help the unemployed and hungry. . While Biden says more economic stimulus will be needed early next year, some Republicans say the current package may be the last.

“If we address critical needs right now, and things get better next year as the vaccine goes on sale and the economy starts to recover, you know, there may be less need,” Thune said.

Details were still being worked out, but the measure includes a second round of “pay check protection” payments to hit companies, $ 25 billion to help struggling tenants with their payments, $ 45 billion to airlines. and transit systems, a temporary period. About a 15 percent increase in food stamp benefits, additional farm subsidies, and a $ 10 billion bailout for the Postal Service.

The pop-up package would combine the $ 900 billion in Covid-19 relief with a $ 1.4 trillion government-wide funding bill. Then there are numerous unrelated plugins that are gaining traction, known as “ash and trash” in short for the assignment panel.

One of the leading candidates is a nearly 400-page water resources bill targeting $ 10 billion for flood control, environmental and coastal protection projects from the 46th Army Corps of Engineers. Another possible addition would expand a batch of tax breaks that will expire soon, including one for craft brewers, wineries and distillers.

The end-of-session rush also promises relief for victims of shockingly high medical bills, a phenomenon that often occurs when providers leave insurance company networks.

A key breakthrough came earlier this week when Democrats agreed to abandon their much-sought-after $ 160 billion state and local government aid package in exchange for McConnell abandoning a key priority of his own: an liability shield for businesses and others. institutions like universities that fear Covid. 19 trials.

The addition of the $ 600 direct payments came after recent endorsements from both U.S. President Donald Trump and progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, along with ambitious Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri. The idea is not very popular in other corners as it is extremely expensive and would give money to millions of people who may not need it, but it has enormous political appeal and was difficult to stop.