Top Congressional Leaders Meet Trump as Shutdown Deadline Looms
Today, top congressional leaders are heading to the White House for urgent talks with President Trump as the government shutdown deadline approaches. Meanwhile, both parties remain divided over healthcare funding and tax credits.
What Is at Stake?
The Oval Office meeting includes Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. According to Congress.gov, the session is happening just before the Senate’s expected vote on a short-term stopgap bill.
Earlier this month, House Republicans narrowly passed a continuing resolution to keep the government open through November 21. However, as Reuters reported, the measure failed in the Senate due to Democratic opposition. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority, but they need 60 votes to pass the legislation.
Democrats Push Back
Democrats insist on including permanent extensions of Affordable Care Act tax credits. In contrast, Republicans argue that government funding must come first. In fact, Schumer and Jeffries told CNN Politics that “time is running out” and warned of a healthcare crisis if negotiations fail.
A Meeting After Tensions
The meeting follows a canceled session last week, where President Trump refused to meet Democratic leaders. He posted on social media that he rejected what he described as “unserious and ridiculous demands.”
Nevertheless, analysts told NPR that Democrats view the meeting as a critical chance for real negotiation. Moreover, Schumer added that if the president only rants, “we won’t get anything done.”
What Happens If Government Shuts Down?
Without a funding deal, the government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1. As a result, hundreds of thousands of federal workers could face furloughs or even layoffs, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Essential services like Social Security and Medicare payments would continue, but new applications could face long delays.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., called the White House’s shutdown contingency plan “mafia-style blackmail,” in comments reported by The Washington Post.
Final Thoughts
The clock is ticking. Ultimately, with both sides entrenched, the looming shutdown highlights the fragile state of bipartisan negotiations in Washington. Furthermore, as The New York Times notes, Americans could feel the consequences of political gridlock in very real ways—from delayed services to an uncertain federal workforce.
