Trump to Host Bipartisan Meeting Amid Looming Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump plans to host a bipartisan gathering of the top four congressional leaders at the White House on Monday. This meeting comes just days after Trump canceled a previous meeting to discuss a potential government shutdown.

The urgency for this meeting arises as lawmakers race against a Tuesday deadline to reach a funding agreement. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, revealed on Sunday that he had spoken with Trump and that the president is eager to engage in discussions to prevent a shutdown.

Trump previously accused House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of making unreasonable demands for their votes on a Republican funding agreement. However, he indicated he would be willing to meet with them if there is a serious conversation about the nation’s future.

The scheduled meeting is set for 2 p.m. ET on Monday, but Schumer expressed concerns about the president’s temperament during the discussions. He expressed hope for productive negotiations but warned that if Trump focuses on grievances, progress would be difficult.

According to CBS News, Trump does not believe the meeting will yield an agreement. Chief national correspondent Robert Costa reported that the president feels both sides are at an impasse. Trump reportedly sees a government shutdown as an opportunity to exert executive power to tackle what he calls waste and fraud.

If a deal is not reached, portions of the federal government could begin shutting down as early as Wednesday morning. The White House has directed agencies to prepare for potential furloughs, contributing to rising tensions between the two parties.

The House passed a stopgap funding bill earlier this month that would keep the government funded for seven weeks. However, it faces significant opposition in the Senate, where it requires Democratic support to pass.

Democrats are insisting that any funding agreement must include an extension of the Affordable Care Act‘s health care subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Jeffries emphasized that failing to extend these subsidies could greatly increase health care costs for millions of Americans.

Despite the demand for health care discussions, some Republicans claim that the matter should be resolved separately from the immediate funding crisis. Senators like John Thune have stated that the imminent funding agreement should not be held hostage by negotiations over policy changes.

The Senate will vote on the funding bill on Tuesday, just ahead of the Wednesday deadline. Schumer stressed the importance of serious negotiations during the upcoming meeting and cautioned that failure to compromise could lead to a government shutdown.