President Donald Trump has scheduled a Monday meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate leaders, including Democrats, to discuss averting a government shutdown. The meeting comes after Trump canceled a previous meeting with Democratic leaders, claiming they had “unserious and ridiculous demands.” This latest meeting, confirmed by a White House official to Fox News, follows a series of disputes over the government’s funding and an impending deadline for a spending agreement. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, along with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader John Thune, are set to meet with Trump, marking a renewed effort to prevent a partial shutdown before September 30.
Democrats expressed their commitment to finding a bipartisan solution, emphasizing the need to address the Republican healthcare crisis and avoid a shutdown. They reiterated their stance that the Trump-backed short-term extension was “dirty” and criticized it for continuing the Republican assault on healthcare, potentially leading to hospital closures. Trump, however, argued that their proposed bill would allow for the repeal of nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts and accused Democrats of ignoring expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies, calling for a bipartisan effort to keep the government open.
Without any legislative action, a government shutdown would commence at 12:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday. House Speaker Mike Johnson advised Trump to cancel the previous meeting, suggesting that it would be a waste of time until a funding agreement is reached. The ongoing political stalemate highlights the deepening divide between the two major parties and the potential economic and operational impacts of a shutdown. The meeting represents a critical opportunity to resolve the impasse, but the success of negotiations remains uncertain given the entrenched positions of both sides.