High-Stakes White House Meeting Underway as Trump, Congressional Leaders Race to Avert Government Shutdown
High-Stakes White House Meeting Underway as Trump, Congressional Leaders Race to Avert Government Shutdown
President Donald Trump is reportedly engaged in, or has just concluded, a critical bipartisan meeting with top US congressional leaders at the White House this Monday afternoon, in a last-ditch effort to prevent a looming government shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed the gathering, which includes Democratic minority leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, alongside Republican Senate majority leader John Thune.
The high-stakes talks come with the federal government facing a shutdown as early as Wednesday morning if a funding agreement is not reached by Tuesday night. The White House has already instructed agencies to prepare for potential furloughs and layoffs of scores of workers.
Democrats are pushing for the extension of expiring healthcare protections, arguing that Republican spending cuts would severely impact millions of Americans. Speaker Johnson and other Republicans, however, contend that healthcare subsidies are a separate policy debate to be resolved by year-end, not tied to the immediate need to keep the government open.
While Senate Minority Leader Schumer expressed hope for a productive negotiation, sources close to President Trump, according to CBS News, suggest the President is not optimistic about an agreement and may even welcome a shutdown to leverage executive power. The outcome of today’s Oval Office discussion remains uncertain as both sides continue to blame each other for the potential impasse.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.