Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby Richard Craig ShelbyDems discussing government funding bill into February GOP short of votes on Trump's controversial Fed pick This week: House returns for pre-election sprint MORE (R-Ala.) warned reporters on Thursday that the partial government shutdown could last for the "long haul” with no clear way out in sight.

"I'm thinking we might be in for a long haul here. ... A long haul, in other words, I don't see any quick resolution to this," Shelby told reporters.

Shelby separately told reporters that the shutdown could last for "months and months."

ADVERTISEMENT

The partial shutdown, which is impacting roughly 25 percent of the government, is already in its 13th day as Congress and the White House are stalemated over funding for President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE's U.S.-Mexico border wall.

"My personal preference [is] we already would have had all these bills done as you well know. ... Right now, let's see what happens. At the moment things don't look good, as far as reaching a resolution," Shelby added.

Lawmakers are bracing for a lengthy shutdown, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally MORE (R-Ky.) saying on Wednesday that he hoped to get a resolution in the "coming days and weeks."

Congressional leadership, including McConnell, met with Trump on Wednesday at the White House for a briefing on the border but made no progress toward an agreement. They are expected to meet again on Friday.

House Democrats are poised to pass legislation later Thursday that would fully reopen the government. The package would fund the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 8, while a second bill would fold in funding through Sept. 30 for the remaining six appropriations measures.

But McConnell is pledging that he will not bring up that legislation for a vote because it does not have Trump's support. The Senate previously passed legislation to fund part of the government through Feb. 8 but got caught flatfooted when the president said he wouldn't support it.

"Let me say this again, the Senate will not take up any proposal that does not have a real chance of passing this chamber and getting a presidential signature," McConnell reiterated on Thursday.