The possibility of a new agreement on pandemic aid before Congress adjourns at the end of this week looks slim, as Republicans and Democrats dig in their heels about what they want the next round to look like.

While the two parties broadly agree that there should be another round of direct cash payments, as well as new support for business loans, they hold vast disagreements in other areas, according to CNN Business. One of the biggest sticking points to have emerged is how to take care of the tens of millions of people who've lost their jobs since the pandemic started. Democrats are pressing to extend the $600 weekly supplemental payments that expired at the end of July, while Republicans have said this would be a disincentive to return to work and suggested, instead, a flat $200 payment that would eventually be replaced with a program that gives people 70 percent of what they made at their last jobs.

Other areas of major disagreement include aid to state and local governments, which Democrats favor and Republicans have balked at, and pandemic-related liability protection for businesses, which Republicans favor Democrats have balked at. There seems to be little optimism that the two sides will come to an agreement any time soon.

While Congress continues to negotiate, the Washington Post said that the White House is mulling unilateral action to provide relief. It is unclear what specifically the administration would be able to do, but the Post said one action might be to temporarily suspend the collection of payroll taxes. The preferred path, however, remains to work through Congress.