As a possible federal shutdown looms, the Democratic leaders of Congress are demanding a meeting with President Donald Trump to negotiate an end to what they call "your decision" to shutter government offices if no action is taken by the end-of-the month deadline.
Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Hakeem Jeffries said on Saturday, September 20, that Republicans − at Trump's insistence − have refused to enter talks. Democrats are pushing to preserve healthcare programs as part of any deal to keep government running past the September 30 funding deadline.
"We write to demand a meeting in connection with your decision to shut down the federal government because of the Republican desire to continue to gut the healthcare of the American people," the two New York Democrats wrote. "Democrats have been clear and consistent in our position," they said. "We are ready to work toward a bipartisan spending agreement that improves the lives of American families and addresses the Republican healthcare crisis."
Trump, in an exchange with reporters on Saturday evening, suggested that he remains open to a potential meeting but was dismissive of the Democratic leadership. "I'd love to meet with them, but I don't think it's going to have any impact," he said.
Congress, which is controlled by Republicans, failed to address the funding issue before lawmakers left town Friday for a break.
The House approved a Republican proposal to keep the federal government funded into November, but the measure failed in the Senate. A Democratic proposal that would have boosted healthcare funds also failed. It all leaves Congress and the White House with no easy way out of the standoff that threatens a shutdown in less than two weeks when the current budget year and funding expires. Trump's first term in office saw a monthlong shutdown − the longest in federal history − in 2018-2019.
Trump predicted Friday that there could be "a closed country for a period of time." He said the government will continue to "take care" of the military and Social Security payments during a closure.