U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren says she does not know at this point what can be done to prevent what she calls a ‘‘mindless across the board approach” to cutting federal spending.

The Massachusetts Democrat was asked during a breakfast meeting of business leaders in Boston on Monday about the $85 billion in automatic spending cuts scheduled to take effect Friday unless a compromise is reached in Washington.

Warren told the New England Council she believes President Barack Obama has offered a ‘‘balanced” plan that calls for revenue increases along with targeted cuts. But she said she did not know at this point whether a deal could be struck with reluctant Republicans in Congress.

Massachusetts would stand to lose millions in funding for education, medical research, defense-related work and other programs.