President Donald Trump is set to meet with leading congressional figures at the White House on Monday, just a day before a crucial deadline for federal government funding, which, if unmet, could result in a shutdown. This significant gathering will include House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The meeting was confirmed by a White House representative and others close to the situation, who requested anonymity, as it had not been publicly disclosed.
In a joint statement, Schumer and Jeffries expressed Democrats’ readiness to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement, emphasising their commitment to averting a government shutdown and addressing critical healthcare issues. With time running short, they are advocating for constructive discussions.
The impending shutdown is looming, set to begin at 12:01am ET on Wednesday if no action is taken, as Democrats in the Senate have thus far withheld the votes necessary for a funding measure to keep the government operational. Previously, a meeting between Trump and Democratic leaders had been scheduled, but Republican officials intervened, prompting the President to cancel. However, following private discussions between Schumer and Thune, the meeting was reinstated amid urgency over the looming deadline.
Democrats are leveraging their position by calling for essential healthcare provisions, specifically the continuation of subsidies that aid low- and middle-income individuals in obtaining insurance through the Affordable Care Act and the reversal of Medicaid cuts linked to the GOP’s tax legislation. Republicans have categorically rejected these demands but are open to discussing them separately from funding talks. They propose a straightforward seven-week extension of current funding.
Earlier in the week, Johnson indicated that he had advised Trump against meeting with Democratic leaders, suggesting that a productive discussion could only take place after the government’s essential operations were secured. Thune echoed this sentiment, although he declined to divulge specifics about his discussions with the President.
While Democrats remain confident that public sentiment would blame Republicans, particularly Trump, for any disruptions resulting from a shutdown, Republicans are strategically moving forward with plans to highlight the Democrats’ resistance to a temporary funding measure, even as they confront political repercussions for their plans to avoid Washington during critical negotiations.
As the deadline approaches, the focus will intensify on whether a bipartisan agreement can be reached to keep the government running and what implications such negotiations will have for both parties in the approaching political landscape.