Trump to meet Democratic leaders Jeffries, Schumer to discuss government funding

23/9/2025 13:18

Republican U.S. President Donald Trump will meet top Democratic leaders in Congress - Representative Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Chuck Schumer - on Thursday to discuss government funding amid a looming shutdown ahead of a September 30 funding deadline, a source familiar with the talks said on Monday. Schumer and Jeffries on Saturday demanded a meeting with Trump to avoid a government shutdown when funding ends.



In a letter addressed to Trump, Schumer and Jeffries said on Saturday that Republican congressional leaders had repeatedly and publicly refused to engage in bipartisan negotiations to keep the government open at the direction of the president.



Healthcare is at the center of the fight over funding, with Democrats seeking more money for subsidies under the Affordable Care Act and the restoration of funding cut from the Medicaid healthcare program for lower-income Americans.



Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate compared with the 47 held by Democrats, and have a 219-213 majority in the House. The Senate on Friday rejected a short-term funding bill and then left town for a week-long break, increasing the odds of a shutdown. The Friday effort fell short of the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster in the Senate.