WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama will Wednesday extend some federal benefits to same-sex partners of US government workers, in a nod to an increasingly restive gay and lesbian community.

The president will sign an executive order in the Oval Office making the change, an administration official said on condition of anonymity, noting that the move would not extend to total health benefits.

Gay and lesbian rights groups have voiced increasing dismay that their high hopes for the Obama administration remain unfulfilled so far.

The president has yet to follow through on a White House promise to end the ban on gays serving openly in the US military.

Gay groups also recently slammed the Obama Justice Department for backing the Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal benefits to same-sex married couples.

Obama has also said he believes marriage is a sacred union between a man and woman, though supports same-sex civil unions, and that he is a "fierce advocate" of gay and lesbian rights.