Biden and Harris meet congressional leaders to try to avert government shutdown

Chuck Schumer says ‘we’re hopeful we can get this done quickly’ after meeting in Oval Office before 1 March deadline

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris met congressional leaders on Tuesday in hopes of striking a deal to try to avert a government shutdown.

“We’re making good progress, and we’re hopeful we can get this done quickly,” the top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said after the meeting, adding that Republican House speaker Mike Johnson “said unequivocally he wants to avoid a government shutdown”.