The US Senate drafted a last-ditch short-term budget proposal Tuesday as time was running out on Congress to avoid a partial government shutdown.

With just days left before the 30 September deadline, both Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell endorsed the draft, which would keep the government open until 17 November.

But there was no immediate indication that the warring factions of House Republicans, who have forced the showdown over government funding, would take it up if passed in the Senate.

"Shutting the government down over a domestic budget dispute doesn't strengthen anyone's political position," McConnell said.

"It just puts important progress on ice. And it leaves millions of Americans on edge," he said.

Frozen services, no paychecks

If a deal isn't reached by Saturday, hundreds of thousands of federal employees could be furloughed, curtailing a wide swath of government services.

That could mean welfare recipients don't get payments they depend on, and airport operations could slow, snarling travel plans for millions.

Some employees would continue to work — like the military and others deemed essential — but would not get their paychecks, until a budget is finally passed.

Democratic President Joe Biden placed the blame on a small group of "extremist" Republican lawmakers in the House, saying he had previously reached a deal on the budget with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell.

The House hardliners "are determined to shut down the government," Biden said in a video message.

Meanwhile the Republican mainstream "refuse… to stand up to the extremists in their party," Biden said.

"So now everyone in America could be forced to pay the price," he said.