WASHINGTON — In a bid to avert a looming government shutdown, President Trump is set to sit down with four top congressional leaders in the Oval Office for critical discussions.
The important meeting is slated for Monday, just days before a Senate vote could dictate whether the federal government remains funded past Tuesday. Earlier this month, House Republicans narrowly pushed through a bill aimed at maintaining government funding until late November, which allocates additional funds for security for lawmakers and officials. However, Senate Democrats thwarted that effort, insisting on bipartisan talks circulated around healthcare funding.
In attendance will be House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.), alongside their Democratic counterparts, the Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.).
Schumer and Jeffries confirmed the upcoming discussion in a statement, referring to their prior meeting cancellation last week. “We, the Democrats, are available to negotiate anytime, anywhere, and with anyone,” they remarked.
If Congress does not act, the government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday following another Senate vote that will revisit the same seven-week funding extension rejected by Democrats. Although Republicans hold a slim majority of 53 to 47, passing significant legislation requires a tally of 60 votes.
Democrats insist on specific concessions from the Republicans, notably on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire this year. Nearly 20 million Americans may face increased insurance costs unless Congress takes measures. Both Schumer and Thune acknowledged that resolving this deadlock would likely involve discussions regarding ACA benefits. Moreover, Democrats seek to revive Medicaid funding cuts and to release federal budget allocations restrained by the Trump administration.
Republicans contend that Democrats need to support the short-term funding bill without conditions and push any subsequent negotiations until later in the fall. Trump branded Democrats as “crazy,” assigning them the responsibility for a potential shutdown.
For more coverage, you can email Katy Stech Ferek at katy.stech@wsj.com and Siobhan Hughes at Siobhan.hughes@wsj.com.
