06:52 AM EDT, 03/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- According to media reports, the White House and US Congressional leaders have reached a deal to fund the government until Sept. 30, citing unnamed sources.

The tentative agreement came after six months of negotiations on an annual budget. US lawmakers must pass the budget before midnight on Friday to avoid a partial shutdown of government operations. Sources said it could take several days to put the deal in writing before a vote, so a short shutdown is possible.

The budget must be published and available for reading for 72 hours before a vote in the House of Representatives, and all 100 US Senators must agree before bringing it to a vote.