From left to right: House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. (Getty Images)
Jeffries said the meeting was "honest" and "candid," and that it included "firm discussions about the border."
Johnson, who met with Biden one-on-one after the main meeting concluded, called both conversations "frank and honest."
"The speaker said unequivocally he wants to avoid a government shutdown," Schumer said after the meeting. "We made it clear that that means not letting any of the government appropriations bills lapse, which means you need some CRs to get that done. But, we're making good progress, and we're hopeful we can get this done really quickly."
He said that while differences remain, they are not "insurmountable."
HOUSE GOP LEADERS JETTISON PROMISE TO VOTE ON 12 INDIVIDUAL SPENDING BILLS
Johnson has not given any indication, however, that he would agree to put another CR on the floor after having said he was "done" with CRs in November.
A government shutdown could mean government offices abruptly close and dozens of federal employees being furloughed — if it lasts beyond the weekend.
"We have been working in good faith around the clock every single day, for months and weeks, and over the last several days, quite literally around the clock, to get that job done. We're very optimistic," Johnson said after the White House meeting.
Speaker Johnson told reporters that he wants to avoid a shutdown. (Getty Images)
Schumer also suggested Johnson maintained that border security measures must be levied in exchange for a House vote on Ukraine aid, a position he's been under pressure from his right flank to stick to.
Echoing this, Johnson told reporters he made the border crisis a main focal point of his in the meeting.
"When I showed up today my purpose was to express what I believe is that obvious truth. And that is we must take care of America's needs first. When you talk about America's needs, you need to talk further about our open border," Johnson said.
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"There's a logic to solving the border," Schumer countered. "We want to solve it, but we have to do Ukraine right now, because there’s a way that can get done quickly, because that has broad, bipartisan consensus. And the border will take some more work, which we’ll be happy to work on to get it done — but not hold up the Ukraine bill for it."
Senate and White House negotiators released a bipartisan deal on border security and foreign aid, including $60 billion for Ukraine earlier this year, but the effort died in the face of overwhelming criticism from Republicans who believed the border measures were inadequate.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
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