Congressional Republicans working to pass spending bills and meanwhile keep the federal government fully operational are working on a two-step process – first passing a short-term, so-called continuing resolution. 

Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole, respective chairpersons of the House and Senate Appropriations committees, are putting forth the plan, according to the news outlet Politico.

Congress has until March 14 to pass a temporary measure to keep the federal government fully operations because members have thus far failed to passes the required appropriations, or spending, bills to give federal agencies the money they need to operate. 

Any agreement between Hill Democrats and Republicans on a stop-gap measure has been delayed because Democrats have tried to include language in them to stop President Donald Trump and Department of Government Efficiency from stopping spending already approved by Congress.

Continuing resolutions keep spending at existing levels until the appropriations are passed. 

Last week, Trump endorsed a temporary spending bill to fund the government until September. 

Republicans say the could have a  stopgap plan by this weekend. 

Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, the Senate’s top Democratic appropriator, says she will vote no on the stopgap put forth by Republicans because a White House’s request for special exceptions in the funding patch is "completely inadequate." 

The Trump administration is seeking extra funding for such programs as the WIC nutrition assistance program for pregnant women and babies, immigration enforcement efforts and military pay increases, according to Politico.