WASHINGTON (AP) — Tensions are rising as Democratic and Republican leaders are set to meet with President Donald Trump today at the White House. This last-ditch effort aims to avert a looming government shutdown. Unfortunately, both sides appear anchored in their positions with no sign of backing down.
If lawmakers fail to pass a funding bill and Trump doesn’t sign it by Tuesday night, many federal offices may close temporarily, and nonexempt workers will face furloughs, pushing both employees and the economy into further distress.
White House officials expressed confidence before the crucial meeting, indicating that the administration had little desire to negotiate terms.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reassured that the president is keen on keeping the government funded. “Today offers Democrats one final chance to engage reasonably on this matter,” she stated on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, Republicans are urging Democrats not to reject legislation that maintains current funding levels. Yet, Democrats are pushing back, leveraging their position to insist that Congress must prioritize healthcare benefit extensions.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer communicated on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that while today’s meeting is a starting point, it is just that—a starting point. Robust negotiations must follow.
Democrats Focus on Healthcare Benefits
Despite calls for cooperation, Trump has shown little willingness to consider the Democrats’ healthcare requests. The planned meeting includes key figures like Schumer and Republican leaders, John Thune and Mike Johnson, alongside Hakeem Jeffries of the House. The president seems resigned to the notion that a shutdown might occur this week.
On Friday, Trump remarked, “If it needs to shut down, it will shut down. The onus is on them to keep it open.”
The administration warned that failing to secure funding might lead to permanent layoffs among federal employees.
Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, echoed Schumer’s earlier cautious sentiments on the impact of a shutdown, calling for unity to avoid chaos.
Democrats assert that Trump’s willingness to meet indicates pressure on him to negotiate correctly. Given the Republican control over Congress and the White House, they believe any shutdown fallout will ultimately reflect on them.
To maintain their leverage in negotiations, Senate Democrats may need to oppose the short-term funding bill, which could be a tricky spot for a party that criticizes shutdowns as harmful.
The proposed funding legislation, which cleared the Republican-led House, would finance the government for an additional seven weeks while the annual spending plan is developed.
Past Voting Patterns of Democrats
In March, during a similar threat of shutdown, Schumer, alongside several Democratic allies, chose to support the renewed Republican funding bill, a decision met with backlash from his party.
His stance this time seems firmer. “We are well aware that the nation requires urgent healthcare assistance, and while significant layoffs seem inevitable, we need to act in favor of our workers,” he commented.
Democrats are advocating for an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits, which help millions find health insurance—credits that are slated to terminate at the year’s end.
Some Republicans are open to the extension but insist on certain reforms; Thune expressed the need to address systemic inefficiencies before advancing the funding debate.
The Negotiation Standoff
It’s unclear if today’s meeting will foster constructive paths to resolution. Typically, discussions between Trump and Democratic leaders haven’t yielded fruitful exchanges, with the president having minimal engagement with them this term.
During an earlier August meeting, Trump’s fallout with Schumer led to a response suggesting that he had little patience for opposing viewpoints.
In the wake of canceling last week’s planned engagement due to doubts over Democratic pledges, Schumer portrayed the recent effort to rearrange Monday’s meeting as a signal of pressure exerted on the White House.
