With the threat of a federal government shutdown looming at the end of the month, Democratic leaders in Congress are demanding a meeting with President Donald Trump.
They say the potential closure is “your decision” and warn that it could put essential government services at risk.
Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Hakeem Jeffries said on Saturday that Republicans, following Trump’s lead, have so far refused to engage in talks. Democrats are especially focused on protecting healthcare programs in any funding agreement.
“We are ready to work toward a bipartisan spending deal that helps American families and addresses the Republican healthcare crisis,” Schumer and Jeffries wrote in a joint statement. “But the Republicans, at the president’s insistence, are blocking negotiations.”
A Trump administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, dismissed the Democrats’ demand.
Congress, which is under Republican control, left town Friday without passing a funding solution. The House approved a short-term measure to keep the government funded into November, but it failed in the Senate. Meanwhile, a Democratic proposal aimed at increasing healthcare funding also didn’t pass.
This leaves both sides in a stalemate as the September 30 deadline approaches. Trump himself warned Friday that the country could face a temporary shutdown, though he said essential services like the military and Social Security payments would continue.
Republicans insist they are not responsible for a potential shutdown, pointing fingers back at Democrats. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune have proposed a temporary funding plan to keep government operations running while talks continue—a typical stopgap measure.
In the Senate, passing such a measure requires a 60-vote threshold, which means bipartisan support is necessary. Democrats are pushing to preserve healthcare funding, including extending enhanced health insurance subsidies and reversing Medicaid cuts from earlier this year’s Republican tax and spending legislation.
Republicans say reversing Medicaid changes is off the table but indicate there’s still time to negotiate health insurance subsidies.
As the clock ticks down, Washington faces another familiar standoff that could disrupt government services in just under two weeks. Photo by Senate Democrats, Wikimedia commons.
