The U.S. Congress is prepared to allow President Barack Obama to restore $1.5 billion in aid to Egypt, which is on a political knife edge as the military-backed government bids to consolidate its rule, according to AFP.

A clause inserted deep into a broad federal spending bill, which is expected to pass as early as Friday, Jan 17, authorizes Washington to send $975 million to the Egyptian government.

This could be activated provided the U.S. administration certifies that Egypt "has held a constitutional referendum, and is taking steps to support a democratic transition in Egypt."

An additional $576 million in aid would flow if and when Egypt holds parliamentary and presidential elections.

Washington withheld much of its aid, principally delivered in the form of payments to U.S. arms manufacturers for deliveries to Egyptian forces, after a crackdown on opposition protesters last year.

But U.S. officials, including key lawmakers, are keen to restore ties with a key Middle East lynch-pin, and they have seized on the constitutional referendum in Egypt as a turning point, which is expected to clear the way for defense minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to stand for the presidency, securing the authority he has wielded since the overthrow of Mohammed Morsi, AFP says.

Morsi, an Islamist with roots in the Muslim Brotherhood, was deposed by the army in July following large-scale street protests against his rule, posing a dilemma for the United States.

U.S. law prohibits the administration from sponsoring a regime brought into place by a coup, but the United States has not condemned the power grab and is proceeding cautiously.

Washington has frozen the delivery to Egypt of major military hardware, including Apache helicopters and F-16 fighter jets, M1A1 Abrams tank parts and Harpoon missiles. But the administration believes the assistance is vital for regional stability and is in the interest of the United States, a position supported by many Democrats and Republicans in Congress.