As the deadline approaches, government closures are looming
The government’s shutdown could be within a week, and now the Trump administration is committed to firing more federal workers if it happens.
FOX -FOX 9
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump will meet with congressional leaders from both White House parties on Monday, September 29th, within 48 hours of the deadline to avoid government shutdown.
White House officials confirmed meetings with House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate majority leader Johnson Tune, Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer and Democrat House leader Hakem Jeffries.
This comes after Trump suddenly canceled a meeting set up with two Democrat leaders on Thursday, September 25th.
The federal government is set to run out of money in the middle of the night, October 1st, at the end of the fiscal year, unless Congress members overcome partisan differences to win contracts to pass the funding bill.
Since 1981, marks the 15th partial shutdown of the federal government.
Without a breakthrough, “essential” government services such as military and law enforcement will continue to operate under shutdowns, while “non-essential” services, including national parks, will be forced to close or reduce staffing.
The Trump White House also warned that Democrats cut programs for low-income women and children if they didn’t reach a deal to avoid closures, as well as the possibility of widespread layoffs for government officials.
Punchbowl News was the first to report on Trump’s upcoming meeting with Congressional leaders.
House Republicans passed a small short-term funding bill on September 19 to fund the government until November 21, but the bill was short in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to avoid the Democrats’ filibuster.
Senate Democrats are using rare moments of political leverage to demand that the funding bill reverse Medicaid and lose Obamacare subsidies.
“As we’ve said repeatedly, Democrats will meet anytime, anywhere, 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 determined to avoid government shutdowns and deal with the Republican healthcare crisis. Time is running out,” they said.
Reuters contributed.
Reach Joey Garrison with X @joeygarrison.
