Lawmakers have just one day to try to prevent the first US government shutdown in 17 years, but a deal appeared remote on Monday as congressional leaders showed little intent to compromise.

With Congress going into crunch sessions ahead of an 11:59 pm (11.59 am Beijing time on Tuesday) deadline, a House Republican leader offered a glimmer of hope when he hinted that his party could offer a new plan that might pass muster in the Democratic-held Senate.

"I think the House will get back together in enough time, send another provision not to shut the government down, but to fund it, and it will have a few other options in there for the Senate to look at," No 3 House Republican Kevin McCarthy told Fox News on Sunday.