Congressional Leaders Visit White House as Government Shutdown Looms

President Trump walks past spectators at the White House as Congress leaders arrive for crucial talks to prevent a government shutdown, with little sign of compromise.

By  NEWS BLEND 360

Updated 11:48 AM EDT, September 29, 2025

WASHINGTON (NB360) — Leaders from both the Democratic and Republican parties in Congress are heading to the White House on Monday for a meeting with President Donald Trump in a last-minute attempt to prevent a government shutdown. However, both parties have shown little willingness to compromise from their firmly held positions.

If Congress does not pass government funding legislation and Trump does not sign it by Tuesday night, numerous government offices nationwide will be temporarily closed, and non-essential federal employees will be furloughed, increasing the burden on workers and the economy.

Prior to the meeting, White House aides indicated that the Republican administration was not planning to negotiate.

“The president wants to keep the government open and funded,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at the White House on Monday morning, noting that Trump was “giving Democrats one last chance to be reasonable today.”

Republicans are challenging Democrats to oppose legislation that would largely maintain current funding levels, but Democrats remain steadfast. They are leveraging one of their few bargaining points to demand that Congress address legislation to extend health care benefits.

“The meeting is a first step, but only a first step. We need a serious negotiation,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Democrats’ health care demands

Trump has shown little interest in considering Democrats' demands on health care, even though he agreed to a meeting on Monday with Schumer, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. The Republican president has repeatedly stated he fully anticipates a government shutdown this week.

“If it has to shut down, it’ll have to shut down,” Trump said Friday. “But they’re the ones that are shutting down government.”

The Trump administration has attempted to pressure Democratic lawmakers to retract their demands, warning that federal employees might be permanently laid off during a funding lapse.

“Chuck Schumer said a few months ago that a government shutdown would be chaotic, harmful, and painful. He’s right, and that’s why we shouldn’t do it,” Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said Sunday on “Meet the Press.”

Still, Democrats argued Trump’s willingness to meet indicates he’s under pressure to negotiate. They claim that since Republicans control the White House and Congress, Americans will primarily blame them for any government shutdown.

However, to maintain their negotiating power, Senate Democrats will likely need to vote against a bill to temporarily extend government funding on Tuesday, just hours before a shutdown — an awkward stance for a party that has long criticized shutdowns as pointless and harmful.

The bill has already passed the Republican-controlled House and would fund the government for seven more weeks while Congress works on annual spending legislation.

Any legislation to fund the government will require support from at least 60 senators in the 100-member chamber. This means at least eight Democrats would need to vote for the short-term funding bill, as Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is expected to vote against it.

How did Democrats vote earlier this year?

In the last potential government shutdown in March, Schumer, along with nine other Democrats, voted to overcome a filibuster and let a Republican-led funding bill proceed to a final vote. This decision led to significant backlash from many members of his own party, with some even suggesting he should resign as the Democratic leader.

This time, Schumer seems determined.

“We’re hearing from the American people that they need help with health care, and regarding these massive layoffs, guess what? Simple one-sentence answer: They’re doing it anyway,” he stated.

Democrats are advocating for an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits that have helped subsidize health insurance for millions since the COVID-19 pandemic. These credits, aimed at expanding coverage for low- and middle-income individuals, are scheduled to expire at the year's end.

Some Republicans are open to extending the tax credits but seek modifications. Thune mentioned on Sunday that the program “desperately needs reform,” and Republicans aim to tackle “waste, fraud, and abuse.” He has urged Democrats to support the funding bill and address the debate on tax credits later.