By Richard Cowan and David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -With less than two weeks to go before a March 14 deadline, Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress appear to be nowhere close to a deal to avert a government shutdown that would throw Washington into deeper turmoil.

Federal funding dries up at the end of the day on March 14. Lawmakers acknowledge that passing full appropriations bills are unlikely given the time crunch, and they are preparing a funding extension known as a continuing resolution, referred to in Washington as a CR, in the hopes of buying more time.

US Congress remains deadlocked over a government funding deal with the March 14 deadline approaching. While some lawmakers push for a stopgap measure to extend funding through September, concerns remain over military spending and program shortfalls.