WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump will meet with congressional leaders from both parties at the White House on Monday, Sept. 29, less than 48 hours before a deadline to avoid a government shutdown.
A White House official confirmed the meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
It comes after Trump abruptly canceled a meeting that had previously been set for Thursday, Sept. 25, with the two Democratic leaders.
The federal government is set to run out of money at midnight on Oct 1, the end of the fiscal year, unless members of Congress overcome partisan differences to strike a deal to pass a funding bill.
It would mark the federal government’s 15th partial shutdown since 1981.
Absent a breakthrough, “essential” government services, such as the military and law enforcement, would keep operating under a shutdown but “non-essential” services, including national parks, would be forced to close or cut staffing.
The Trump White House has also warned Democrats of potential widespread layoffs of government employees and cuts to programs for low-income women and children if a deal is not reached to avert a shutdown.
Punchbowl News was first to report on Trump’s upcoming meeting with congressional leaders.
Republicans in the House of Representatives narrowly passed a short-term funding bill on Sept. 19 to fund the government through Nov. 21, but the bill fell short in the Senate, where 60 votes are required to avert a Democratic filibuster.
Senate Democrats are using a rare moment of political leverage to demand that the funding bill reverse looming cuts to Medicaid and lapsing Obamacare subsidies.
“As we have repeatedly said, Democrats will meet anywhere, at any time and with anyone to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people,” Schumer and Jeffries said in a joint statement on their plans to meet with Trump.
“We are resolute in our determination to avoid a government shutdown and address the Republican healthcare crisis. Time is running out,” they said.
-Joey Garrison
