The Clinton administration and congressional Republican leaders agreed Wednesday to avert a federal shutdown beginning Sunday, forced by budget gridlock.

After a week of bargaining, the two sides shook hands on a deal that would keep agencies operating for the first six weeks of fiscal 1996, which begins Oct. 1, even though most of Congress’ spending work remains incomplete. In the meantime, the two sides can continue sorting through their budget differences and avoid blame from a public that seems weary of stalemate in Washington.

White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta said the pact would for now avoid “drastic” GOP slashes in education, environment and other programs.

Republicans pressing their campaign to cut spending and balance the budget by 2002 acknowledged that the truce on a continuing resolution, the formal name for the temporary spending issue, was only a stopgap measure. president and Congress had been sidestepped. The two sides face a bushel-full