Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., is expected to announce a proposal Monday for a continuing resolution to fund the government for the rest of fiscal year 2013 that would give federal agency heads what she has called “enhanced transfer reprogramming authority,” according to various media reports.

It's unclear exactly would that mean for Agriculture Department issues such as furloughs for meat inspectors and cuts to the special nutrition program for women, infants and children known as WIC.

Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member Ray Blunt, R-Mo., said Thursday that he intends to introduce legislation to give Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack the ability to keep meat inspectors on the job, the Associated Press reported.