Trump to meet Democratic leaders as government shutdown deadline looms

President Trump is scheduled to meet with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries this week to discuss averting a government shutdown.

23 sept 2025 - 14:36 • 2 min read

President Donald Trump is expected to meet with top Democratic leaders in Congress this week as a September 30 deadline to fund the government approaches, according to sources familiar with the planning.

The meeting, anticipated for Thursday, will include Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. The discussions come as lawmakers grapple with a looming government shutdown.

Trump expressed skepticism about the potential for a breakthrough, telling reporters over the weekend that he did not anticipate significant progress. "I'd love to meet with them, but I don't think it's going to have an impact," Trump stated. He added, "They want all this stuff. They don't change. They haven't learned from the biggest beating they've ever taken."

One of the primary points of contention is healthcare. Democrats are pushing for any funding resolution to include an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are slated to expire at the end of the year. Schumer and Jeffries have written to Trump, stating, "Tens of millions of Americans are on the brink of their healthcare costs increasing by thousands of dollars per year, risking bankruptcy for many families." They questioned, "We do not understand why you prefer to shut down the government rather than protect the health care and quality of life of the American people."

Schumer voiced his hope for a bipartisan agreement, telling CNN on Sunday, "I hope and pray that Trump will sit down with us and negotiate a bipartisan bill."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Monday that the meeting is still being considered. "Discussions are ongoing with both Republican and Democratic members of Capitol Hill," Leavitt said. "What this White House wants and what Republicans want, we want a clean funding extension to keep the government open."

A short-term funding bill passed the House on Friday, designed to keep the government operational through November 21 and include an $88 million increase in security funding for lawmakers. However, this measure failed in the Senate. A separate Democratic proposal, which prioritized healthcare funding and would have extended government operations until October 31, also did not pass.

This meeting between the President and the Democratic leaders signifies ongoing efforts to find common ground and prevent a federal government shutdown.