Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks with reporters after a meeting in the Oval Office with President Joe Biden and Congressional leaders, Feb 27, 2024, in Washington. (PHOTO / AP)

WASHINGTON - US congressional leaders have come to an agreement to prevent a partial government shutdown slated for midnight on Friday, lawmakers said Wednesday.

The Democratic and Republican parties have agreed to finance certain government sectors and have decided to prolong the existing deadlines of early March until March 8 and March 22, buying Congress more time to craft annual spending bills.

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In January, Congress approved a stopgap funding bill that would keep part of government open until March 1 and keep other agencies funded until March 8.

"We are in agreement that Congress must work in a bipartisan manner to fund our government," House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a joint statement.

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After preparing final text, this package of six full year appropriations bills that fund the departments of agriculture, commerce, energy, interior, justice, transportation and veterans affairs will be voted on and enacted prior to March 8, according to the statement.

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The remaining six appropriations bills - defense, financial services and general government, homeland security, labor-health and human services, legislative branch, and state and foreign operations - will be finalized, voted on, and enacted prior to March 22.