By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON – Perilously close to a government shutdown, the White House and congressional leaders closed in on a possible deal to cut tens of billions of dollars in federal spending and avert the closure, officials said Friday night.

House Republican leaders summoned their rank and file to a late night meeting for what aides said would be an update on the talks.

Democrats said they were reviewing the details of a possible tentative agreement.

The developments unfolded as the administration readied hundreds of thousands of furlough notices for federal workers and warned that federal services from national parks to tax-season help centers would be shuttered without a deal by midnight.

"We know the whole world is watching us today," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., during a day that featured incendiary, campaign style rhetoric as well as intense negotiation.

Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, told reporters gathered outside House Speaker John Boehner's office there was no agreement yet, and there was no claim to the contrary from the White House or Senate Democrats.

But other Republicans said the framework of a tentative agreement was in place, ready to be outlined for the newly empowered GOP House majority that came to Congress determined to cut spending and rein in government.

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