The White House has released photographs showing President Donald Trump apparently working hard over the weekend in a bid to avert the impending government shutdown.

The president spent his inauguration anniversary at his desk rather than partying with supporters at a planned Mar a Lago celebration as he struggled to make headway on resolving the crisis.

A second senate vote on the spending bill has been scheduled for 1am (6am GMT) Monday as the government shutdown enters the working week.

But as the deadline loomed, it seemed the two sides were at an impasse over the question of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy.

Democrats insist a provision to protect the dreamers, those who were brought to the country illegally as children by their parents, is included. The Republicans say they will negotiate that once the government is up and running again.

On Sunday morning, the president tweeted: