Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby Richard Craig ShelbyThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election Senate to push funding bill vote up against shutdown deadline Senate GOP eyes early exit MORE (R-Ala.) said on Monday that the negotiations on top-line spending numbers need a "breakthrough," in the latest sign of trouble for the talks.

Shelby, speaking with reporters, said "impediments" have cropped up in the government funding talks, a U-turn from late last week when he said he was "optimistic" about the chances of reaching an agreement soon.

"I thought Thursday after we left the Speaker's office that we might have had a breakthrough, we haven't had a breakthrough yet," Shelby told reporters. "It's not just the allocations, it's dealing with the wall."

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Asked about the chances of getting a deal this week on the top-line spending figures for the 12 appropriations bills, known as 302 (b)s, Shelby replied: "We're where we are. We need a breakthrough."

"We're just looking for a way to resolve our problems, and it seems like we make a couple steps positive, and then sideways and slip backwards. It's frustrating at times for everybody," he added.

Shelby met with House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey Nita Sue LoweyTop House Democrats call for watchdog probe into Pompeo's Jerusalem speech With Biden, advocates sense momentum for lifting abortion funding ban Progressives look to flex their muscle in next Congress after primary wins MORE (D-N.Y.), Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiDemocratic senator to party: 'A little message discipline wouldn't kill us' Overnight Health Care: New wave of COVID-19 cases builds in US | Florida to lift all coronavirus restrictions on restaurants, bars | Trump stirs questions with 0 drug coupon plan Overnight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds MORE (D-Calif.) and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin on Thursday.

He said after the closed-door powwow that he was "optimistic," and that it was the "best meeting we've had in months."

Both Shelby and Lowey said after the meeting that they wanted a deal on 302 (b)s by Wednesday.

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The government is currently funded through Thursday Lawmakers are currently expected to pass a second stopgap spending bill through Dec. 20, buying negotiators more time to try to reach a deal on the larger fiscal year 2020 bills.

Once lawmakers are able to get a deal on the top-line figures, they would still need to iron out the fiscal 2020 bills. Though the Senate has passed four and the House has passed 10, they've reached final agreements on none of the 12 bills.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDemocratic senator to party: 'A little message discipline wouldn't kill us' House to vote on resolution affirming peaceful transition of power Republican lawyers brush off Trump's election comments MORE (R-Ky.) earlier Monday backed a "clean" continuing resolution through Dec. 20, saying he wants to wrap up as much of the fiscal 2020 bills as possible by the end of the year.

"This is our opportunity to get a bipartisan process back on track ... and then with more cooperation, we can reach agreement on allocations and pass as many of the 12 appropriations bills as possible before the end of the year," he added.