(CNN) Lawmakers return to the Capitol this week with negotiations over a crucial budget deal, in the words of one senior official involved, "as far away from agreement as they've been."

Senate Republicans remain frustrated with the White House. House Democrats are engaged in their most significant internal battle of their majority. Neither party's congressional leadership knows exactly what President Donald Trump would support or sign, aides on both sides say.

Reminder of what's at stake: Congressional leaders are desperately seeking to forestall more than $120 billion in automatic spending cuts, as well as a catastrophic debt default. The preferred method is to strike an all-encompassing two-year budget deal. At this point, after several meetings of top negotiators, things have moved further away from a deal. The internal dynamics of the Democratic caucus laid bare by the immigration funding fight two weeks ago have only served to exacerbate concerns about any path to a final resolution.

Bottom line: The House and Senate are in session for a grand total of seven weeks before an end-of-September spending deadline, with a month-long August recess smack in the middle of it. While there is no agreement on a spending deal, or even the process of what's next at the moment, there is agreement on this: things need to start moving, and fast.

Scheduling: As of now, there are no meetings scheduled between congressional leaders and top White House negotiators this week, aides say. That could change -- and congressional aides have indicated they would like it to change in order to jump start talks -- but as of now, nothing is on the books.

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