Trump to huddle with key congressional leaders amid looming government shutdown

A White House official and four lawmakers told the network that the meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 29, at the White House.

Expected participants include Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R), and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R).

This turn of events comes after President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a scheduled meeting with Democratic leaders on Thursday, September 25, at the urging of Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Trump dismissed Democratic demands as inappropriate and absurd.

Since then, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer have traded sharp public remarks over the looming shutdown and the Democrats’ push to include healthcare provisions in temporary funding.

Tensions escalated after the White House Office of Management and Budget ordered agencies this week to prepare contingency plans for mass furloughs in the event of a shutdown.

Government funding runs out on September 30, threatening millions of federal employees with furloughs or unpaid work. Congress must pass or extend a spending bill by that date to avoid a shutdown.

On Saturday, Jeffries stressed that the OMB memo would not pressure Democrats into backing down.

“As we have repeatedly said, Democrats will meet anywhere, at any time and with anyone to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people. We are resolute in our determination to avoid a government shutdown and address the Republican healthcare crisis. Time is running out,” he told MSNBC.

Senate Democrats are also planning a Sunday, September 28, conference call ahead of their return to Washington.

Republicans maintain they will not make concessions to approve a seven-week stopgap bill, insisting that negotiations should take place during the broader budget process.

Risk of a government shutdown

A shutdown refers to the temporary suspension of US government operations when no funding bill is approved for the coming period.

On September 19, House Republicans passed a short-term funding package designed to keep the government open through the end of the month. The measure was crafted exclusively by Republicans without input from Democrats.

Just hours later, Senate Democrats blocked the proposal.

Republicans also failed to push through an alternative measure that would have extended funding until October 31, raising the likelihood of a shutdown.

Last week, President Donald Trump did not rule out letting a shutdown happen, citing the inability of Democrats and Republicans to reach an agreement on a funding bill.

If federal agencies are forced to suspend operations, many government employees would face mass furloughs.

Earlier this year, in March, the Senate narrowly avoided a shutdown by passing a funding measure just hours before the deadline.