Biden calls meeting with congressional leaders as shutdown threat grows

Washington — President Biden is set to meet with congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday, as lawmakers squabble over a path forward while a deadline to fund the government looms large at week's end. 

Congress has just a handful of days to approve the first four appropriations bills to prevent a partial shutdown after March 1. The second deadline comes a week later, on March 8, after which funding for the bulk of government agencies is set to expire. 

Despite the urgency, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday that the two chambers were unable to release legislative text by a weekend deadline, giving lawmakers time to review the appropriations bills ahead of votes later in the week. The New York Democrat put the blame on House Republicans, saying they "need more time to sort themselves out."