With just one week remaining before federal funding runs out, a partial government shutdown is looking increasingly likely. On Tuesday night, President Trump abruptly canceled a scheduled meeting with Democratic Congressional leaders Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). In a post on Truth Social, he wrote, “after reviewing the details of the unserious and ridiculous demands made by the Minority Radical Left Democrats…I have decided that no meeting with their Congressional Leaders could possibly be productive.”
The cancellation came after Trump reportedly met with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD). House GOP leaders had expressed concern that a meeting between Democrats and the president could weaken their negotiating position. Democrats quickly responded, accusing Trump of steering the government toward a shutdown.
Currently, the House has passed a Republican-authored Continuing Resolution to keep the government open until November 21. After its passage, Speaker Johnson announced the House would recess until October 1—one day after the shutdown deadline—hoping to pressure Senate Democrats into supporting the bill. Senate Democrats rejected the proposal and introduced their own version, which was then blocked by Senate Republicans, leaving Congress at an impasse.
Any funding bill will require 60 votes in the Senate, but bipartisan talks have stalled. Senate leaders John Thune and Chuck Schumer have refused to initiate discussions, each claiming the other should make the first move. Schumer argues Thune needs Democratic votes and should reach out, while Thune insists Republicans are offering a clean seven-week extension similar to ones Democrats have previously supported.
A key sticking point is the expiration of health insurance subsidies at the end of the year. While there is bipartisan interest in extending them, GOP leaders have rejected including the measure in any short-term funding bill. Speaker Johnson called it “a December policy issue, not a September funding issue.” Democrats and insurers argue the extension is urgent, with open enrollment beginning November 1.
As the deadline approaches, both parties remain entrenched, and federal agencies have begun preparing for a shutdown.