In addition, leadership is getting more involved.

Top aides to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) have been in frequent contact with each other and committee members about the secretive discussions.

Reid is getting “more involved” with the supercommittee talks, aides say, but he hasn’t fully engaged yet as the supercommittee moves into the final rounds of talks. Reid is also chatting with Boehner.

“They talk all the time about where we’re going,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), referring to Reid and Boehner. “We’re early in the process.”