Trump, Lawmakers Meet as Government Shutdown Deadline Looms:

With the clock ticking toward a potential partial government shutdown, President Donald Trump is set to meet with top Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress on Monday in a last-ditch effort to break a bitter budget stalemate. The urgency comes as federal funding is set to expire at midnight on Wednesday. Without a deal, parts of the U.S. government could grind to a halt, forcing hundreds of thousands of federal employees to go without pay or face furloughs. The current impasse was triggered earlier this month when Senate Democrats blocked a short-term funding bill crafted by Republicans. That measure aimed to extend government funding through November 21. But Democrats say they won’t agree to any temporary funding package that doesn’t address broader healthcare concerns—chief among them, reversing cuts to Medicaid introduced under Trump’s "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." Republicans, however, insist that healthcare provisions should be debated separately and not tied to the urgent task of keeping the government open. They argue that combining these issues only delays action and heightens the risk of a shutdown. Although Republicans control 53 seats in the 100-member Senate, they still need at least 60 votes to advance most legislation. That means bipartisan support is essential to keep the government funded. In Sunday morning talk show interviews, leaders from both parties pointed fingers over who’s to blame for the deadlock. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, said the Democrats are holding up a bill that’s ready for action. “There is a bill sitting at the desk in the Senate right now,” Thune told NBC’s Meet the Press. “We could pick it up today and pass it. The ball is in their court.” But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pushed back, accusing Trump of being more interested in political theater than negotiation. “We need a serious negotiation,” Schumer said on the same program. “If the president is just going to rant and rave about grievances and call names, nothing will get done. My hope is that Monday’s meeting will be a real, productive conversation.” The upcoming meeting follows a previously scheduled one that Trump abruptly canceled last week. He accused Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of making what he called “unserious and ridiculous demands.” As the Wednesday deadline nears, the stakes are high—not just for lawmakers, but for the federal workforce and the broader public. During a shutdown, non-essential government employees are typically placed on unpaid leave, while essential personnel must work without pay until the impasse is resolved. Though workers eventually receive backpay, the disruption can create financial strain for millions. According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, there have been 14 government shutdowns since 1980. Most have been brief, lasting only a few days. However, the longest one in U.S. history—a record-setting 34-day shutdown—occurred during Trump’s presidency between late 2018 and early 2019. As of now, it's unclear whether Monday’s meeting will lead to any breakthroughs. But with the deadline fast approaching, both parties are under growing pressure to compromise—or risk another costly and disruptive shutdown.

NEWS