A looming government shutdown is threatening the US, as a fierce standoff over healthcare and spending issues has left Democrats and Republicans in Congress at an impasse.
With a shutdown set to begin at 12:01am Wednesday (GMT-4) if the Senate does not pass a House measure extending federal funding for seven weeks, thousands of federal employees face furloughs or permanent layoffs.
The Senate has yet to agree on a measure that would fund the government, with Senate Democrats demanding the inclusion of an extension to expiring healthcare benefits, while Republicans, led by President Donald Trump, refuse to entertain negotiations, calling the bill a straightforward, “clean” proposal that should be free from controversy.
As the deadline approaches, it remains uncertain if either side will relent, reports AP/UNB.
“It’s now in the president’s hands,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer stated after a meeting with Trump on Monday, which yielded little apparent progress. “He can avoid the shutdown if he gets the Republican leaders to go along with what we want.”
Vice President JD Vance, also present at the meeting, commented, “I think we’re headed into a shutdown, because the Democrats won’t do the right thing.”
Partisan gridlock over government spending is common in Washington, but this current standoff presents a unique opportunity for Democrats to leverage their position in pushing for policy victories, especially as their base looks for a confrontation with Trump. Republicans, who hold a slim majority in the Senate, may need Democratic votes to overcome a filibuster and pass the bill with 60 votes, as Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky is expected to oppose it.
Trump, who has shown little interest in Democrats’ demands on healthcare, met with Schumer, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., but did not indicate willingness to negotiate.
Before the meeting, Trump made it clear he was not interested in compromising, stating, “Their ideas are not very good ones.”
The meeting was Trump’s first with top congressional leaders since taking office for a second term, and according to Jeffries, the president did more listening than speaking.
Schumer later noted that they had “had candid, frank discussions” about healthcare, while Vance added that Trump found some common ground on policy ideas. Schumer revealed that Trump “was not aware” of the potential rise in health insurance costs when subsidies expire at the end of December.
However, Trump did not appear ready for serious negotiations, and hours after the meeting, he posted a doctored video mocking Schumer and Jeffries, drawing backlash from Democrats. Jeffries responded by saying, “Bigotry will get you nowhere,” adding, “We are NOT backing down.”
Democrats are pressing for an extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which have provided health insurance subsidies to millions since the pandemic. These credits are set to expire at the end of the year. “We are not going to support a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to gut the health care of everyday Americans,” Jeffries said.
Thune, however, urged Democrats to approve the funding bill and continue the debate on tax credits later. While some Republicans are open to extending the credits, they want to impose new limits.
“We’re willing to sit down and work with them on some of the issues they want to talk about,” Thune said, adding, “But as of right now, this is a hijacking of the American people, and it’s the American people who are going to pay the price.”
Democrats find themselves in a difficult position, traditionally opposing shutdowns, but feeling pressure to stand up to Trump. Some activists even called for Schumer’s resignation in March after he and other Democrats voted to break a filibuster and allow a Republican-led funding bill to advance to a final vote. Schumer defended his vote, citing the worsening situation under Trump’s administration.
Despite the difficult circumstances, some Democrats are holding out hope for a last-minute compromise. Michigan Senator Gary Peters said, “A lot can happen in this place in a short period of time.”
Federal agencies have prepared contingency plans for a potential shutdown, outlining which offices will remain open and which employees will be furloughed. The White House has warned of possible widespread layoffs across the government if funding lapses.
Russ Vought, Trump’s budget director, argued that the shutdown could be avoided if Senate Democrats approve the House-passed bill.
Vought, who had previously advised hardline conservatives in Congress to use shutdown threats for negotiations, criticised the Democrats’ actions, calling it “hostage taking” and vowed it would not be accepted.
