As the deadline for a government shutdown approaches at midnight on Tuesday, tensions are boiling in Washington. President Donald Trump and his Republican allies believe that the key to avoiding disaster lies in convincing Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to shift his stance.
GOP heads still require crucial support from Schumer and his party to get any funding legislation across the finish line. For now, both sides are digging in their heels.
In a little over a day, Schumer along with other congressional leaders are set to meet Trump at the White House for a last-ditch effort to bypass a shutdown. However, it remains uncertain if either side is genuinely willing to find a common ground.
Speaker Mike Johnson spoke to CNN, indicating that Trump hopes to use this meeting to convince Democrats to approve the Republican plan, excluding the Obamacare tax credits that Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are insisting on.
“Chuck Schumer has returned with an extensive list of partisan demands that don’t align with this process, and he seems ready to trigger a government shutdown. The president aims to communicate that to him and mine said, ‘Don’t go down that path,’” Johnson told Jake Tapper on CNN.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune also chimed in before the Monday meeting on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” saying, “It depends entirely on the Democrats.”
On their end, Democrats expressed on the Sunday talk shows that they have no plan to back off their demands in exchange for government funding.
“Our position is firm: halt the cuts, lower hospital bills, and protect healthcare,” Jeffries asserted during his appearance on ABC’s “This Week.”
Democrats are adamant about securing billions in Obamacare subsidies as part of any negotiations that would get the necessary Democratic votes to pass funding legislation in the Senate. Both leaders managed to speak in unison prior to Monday’s meeting, with a joint statement saying, “We stay committed to preventing a government shutdown and tackling the serious healthcare crisis caused by Republicans.”
This upcoming meeting marks the first conversation between Schumer and Trump since the president’s inauguration on January 20, and it will also be the premiere face-to-face meeting between Trump and Jeffries.
Later on Monday, the whole Senate will reconvene in Washington for possibly the last opportunity to avert a shutdown. The Republicans intend to reintroduce their funding plan before the October 1 deadline. But insiders speculate that many Democratic members will oppose any semblance of that plan. During a call on Friday, Jeffries reassured his party team that Schumer confirmed their hesitance to yield.
Despite Democratic insistence, Republicans have continued to downplay concerns around ACA subsidies, which have until the year’s end before any risk of expiration. Meanwhile, Democrats stress the importance of addressing these subsidies prior to open enrollment kicking off on November 1.
“We can discuss that, but first: cease the hostage situation, ensure the government remains operational, and afterward we can chat about those premium tax credits. I’m on board with that. I believe everyone is,” Thune said on Sunday, yet he mentioned that he still sees potential solutions.
The stalemate between Trump and Democrats is deepening, built upon months of increasing frustrations, whereby Democrats bore witness to the GOP slashing Medicaid to facilitate tax cuts and deploying troops to pacify predominantly blue cities. Moreover, the administration’s maneuvers against political foes, including actions involving former FBI Director James Comey, have only escalated tensions.
Supported by their base, Democrats are persistent that they won’t entertain the GOP’s funding plans without monumental policy changes from Trump, featuring significant funds to alleviate costs for Obamacare. In response, the Trump administration has made it clear they will not propose compromises, instead posing severe threats, like cutting government agency payrolls, should Democrats hesitate to take action.
With both parties gearing up for a media showdown, they are on edge regarding who will take the blame should a shutdown occur. House Democrats are set to return Monday evening to amplify pressure on Trump and the Republicans, but their segment of Congress will remain largely empty as Speaker Mike Johnson plans to keep his members away this week, asserting that they’ve already fulfilled their duties and it’s time for Schumer to come around to their assessment.
Often, during past shutdowns—such as that of 2013—House leads have kept their members in town, staging votes on essentials like military funding, veteran support, or border patrol. In contrast, current Republican leadership argues that doing so now would needlessly lend political cover to vulnerable Democrats.
GOP Rep. Adrian Smith from Nebraska emphasized that the powers granted to Trump in scenarios of shutdown, where he has notable control over federal operations, should motivate Democrats not to let funding collapse.
“The foundational principles of civics repeat that the executive branch has expanded authority during such times. It’s something I believe the Democrats would work to avoid, yet we’ll see how this unfolds,” remarked Smith.
Despite potential warnings of permanent cuts looming over the government shutdown threat, the Republican side seems firmly aligned and accuses Democrats of starting the conflict, certain of the political callback it will produce.
“This signifies pure desperation, and they will pay for it,” expressed a GOP aide.
However, Democrats retort that GOP leaders are undervaluing the irate sentiments within their ranks towards Trump and overappraising their notion of the Democrats cowering away from a shutdown.
“This is gearing up to be a lengthy, high-stakes shutdown like nothing we’ve faced previously. It’s anyone’s guess as to where this will lead us,” one senior aide counseled CNN. “Prepare yourselves for quite a storm.”
The Situation at the White House
Over at the White House, officials appear less impulsive regarding the impending shutdown, claiming the onus lies entirely with Democrats to reconvene the negotiations and agree on an unhindered funding halt.
This sentiment has escalated recently as Democrats continue to hold against any fulfillment on their demands, primarily vague health care compromises that the White House has outright dismissed previously.
Trump, over the last few days, looks to capitalize on the vagueness of Democratic proposals, turning the narrative in a direction favorable to him, accusing them of directing funds towards undocumented immigrants, easing border controls, and pushing for policies supporting gender transition.
“The responsibility lies with them,” Trump stated on Friday regarding the Democrats. “They wish to allocate billions, ultimately trillions, to illegal immigrants who came into our country unlawfully.”
In contrast, Democrats aren’t pushing for those concerns, focusing mainly on reversing prior Republican decisions that slashed vital health care funding while extending certain support to Affordable Care Act participants.
Nonetheless, the liberal leadership hasn’t substantially defined their compromise terms, and Trump’s team, alongside Republican leaders, seems uninclined to ease their rigid insistence on a simple funding plan with the belief that they’re trending favorably as the Tuesday deadline approaches.
“Republicans primarily advocate for keeping the government operational, which is a straightforward communication that resonates with most Americans,” expressed Doug Heye, a seasoned GOP strategist. “Mike Johnson understands the benefits of such political messaging exceedingly well.”
Reported by CNN’s Ellis Kim and Camila DeChalus.
For ongoing updates, check out CNN.com
