Like any home or business, the federal government must pay its bills: Congress has little time to prevent a government shutdown.

Senate Democrats remained tight-lipped on Thursday after meeting on the fast-approaching government funding deadline, creating a heightened prospect for a shutdown.

Several Senate Democrats told CNN they expect a government shutdown to be averted before the Friday deadline — potentially with enough Democrats supplying the votes to break a filibuster on the House plan.

The House passed a measure to keep the government funded, but the shutdown threat is still present because the bill may lack votes in the Senate.