US gov't shutdown looms as White House meeting fails to break deadlock
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The two parties have less than 24 hours to reach an agreement before the US Government shuts down.
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, right, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY, speak to members of the media outside the West Wing at the White House in Washington, Monday, September 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
A critical White House meeting on Monday between US President Donald Trump and congressional leaders failed to prevent what now appears to be an inevitable government shutdown. With funding set to expire at 12:01 am Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance told reporters that a shutdown is likely because "the Democrats won't do the right thing."
The meeting, which brought together top Republican and Democratic leaders, produced no breakthrough. Instead, both parties doubled down on their positions and traded blame for the impending crisis that could affect millions of federal workers within hours.
The core dispute centers on healthcare policy, particularly funding for Affordable Care Act subsidies and Medicaid programs. Democrats are refusing to support any funding bill that cuts healthcare for everyday Americans, while Republicans accuse Democrats of holding the government hostage to advance their policy agenda.
This government shut down is all about whether Republicans will get away with raising health care premiums by 75% for 20 million Americans and throwing 15 million people off their health care.
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) September 30, 2025
We can't allow that to happen. pic.twitter.com/BWgqZMoUQ4
'Very large differences with Trump'
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made clear that Democrats wouldn't back legislation that "continues to gut the health care of everyday Americans." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer acknowledged "very large differences" with Trump on healthcare but noted the president at least listened to Democratic objections during the meeting.
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune accused Democrats of taking "the federal government as a hostage" to satisfy demands from far-left special interest groups. He emphasized that Republicans won't negotiate on a short-term bill but are willing to compromise on longer-term government funding.
.@LeaderJohnThune on the Democrats pulling America towards a government shutdown over their partisan demands: "This is a hijacking of the American people — and it's the American people that are going to pay the price." pic.twitter.com/GvHzHgEKMk
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 29, 2025
Why this shutdown is different
This standoff represents a significant test of political will. Republicans, having won full control of government last year, are eager to demonstrate their power. Meanwhile, Democrats see a rare opportunity to advance healthcare priorities and prove they won't simply cave to Republican demands as they did six months ago.
Despite Republican control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, Democrats hold significant leverage. Senate rules require 60 votes to pass funding bills, and Republicans only control 53 seats, making Democratic cooperation essential.
Schumer told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that avoiding a shutdown requires Republicans to engage in serious negotiations rather than simply ranting about grievances.
If you think your shutdown is a joke, it just proves what we all know: You can’t negotiate. You can only throw tantrums. https://t.co/d1QrMSeAh7
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 30, 2025
The cost of shutdown
If the government closes, none of the millions of federal workers would receive paychecks, and hundreds of thousands would be furloughed. Military personnel would also go unpaid, despite White House efforts to protect their paychecks.
While all workers would eventually receive back pay once the shutdown ends, the immediate financial strain could be devastating for families living paycheck to paycheck. Several federal agencies, including the State and Defense Departments, have already begun preparing contingency plans.
Economic concerns mount
Beyond the impact on federal workers, a prolonged shutdown could harm an already fragile US economy. Despite a strong stock market, inflation remains high, Trump's tariffs are hurting farmers and small businesses, and recent college graduates face challenging job market conditions.
Speaking to NBC News by phone on Sunday, Trump acknowledged the shutdown possibility and issued a stark warning that his administration might use the opportunity to permanently fire federal workers. "If there is, we are going to cut a lot of the people that we're able to cut on a permanent basis," he said.
Internal republican tensions
House Speaker Mike Johnson informed House Republicans during a Monday conference call that he doesn't plan to reconvene the chamber until next week. He advised members to avoid political events and fundraisers during the shutdown to prevent poor optics.
However, some Republicans pushed back. Representatives Beth Van Duyne and Mike Lawler argued the House should return sooner to better message against Democrats. House Conference Chair Lisa McClain advised members to focus messaging on economic impacts rather than healthcare, where Republicans tend to lose the argument, according to sources on the call.
Since being elected to Congress, I have always voted to prevent government shutdowns. Nobody wins in a shutdown, and it ultimately costs taxpayers more. @SenSchumer needs to stop holding funding hostage and vote for the clean CR that passed the house pic.twitter.com/fWzjSLvAGS
— Congressman Mike Lawler (@RepMikeLawler) September 29, 2025
The House passed a stopgap bill this month that would extend funding through November 21, but the Senate rejected both that measure and a Democratic alternative. With the House not scheduled to return until October 7, a week after the deadline, any last-minute deal would require Johnson to call members back on short notice.
The fact that Monday's meeting occurred at all suggests neither party wants to be blamed for a shutdown. Trump had abruptly canceled a previous meeting with Democratic leaders, making closure seem inevitable. But with both sides maintaining firm positions and the deadline just hours away, the first government shutdown of Trump's second term appears increasingly likely.
