WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has scheduled a meeting with leading Democrats and republicans at the White House on monday to avert a potential government shutdown. The meeting comes as Congress faces a Wednesday deadline to agree on a federal budget.
According to multiple US media reports, the discussion aims to secure a budget agreement and prevent a lapse in funding for government agencies. Trump previously canceled a planned meeting with Democrats, but Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson stated the new session intends to convey to Democrats the need to cease “political games.”
Democrats, through House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have expressed willingness to negotiate a bipartisan agreement that addresses public needs and avoids a shutdown.
A key sticking point in negotiations is healthcare funding. Democrats are advocating for continued budget allocations for programs protecting access to care for millions of Americans. Vice President JD Vance, however, has accused Democrats of seeking to allocate funds for healthcare services to individuals who have entered the country illegally.
Failure to reach an agreement by Wednesday could trigger a “government shutdown,” perhaps halting operations at numerous agencies and temporarily suspending salaries for manny federal employees. Past shutdowns have demonstrated varying degrees of impact.