With federal government funding set to expire at midnight on Tuesday, Democrats and Republicans in Congress remain deadlocked over a temporary spending bill, raising the risk of a partial government shutdown that could furlough thousands of federal workers and disrupt services ranging from national parks to federal courts.
President Donald Trump will host congressional leaders at the White House on Monday afternoon in a last-minute effort to break the impasse. The meeting, scheduled for 3 p.m., includes Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. However, prospects for a deal remain uncertain as Democrats demand action on expiring healthcare subsidies, while Republicans prioritize a narrow spending bill to keep the government running.
The dispute centers on $1.7 trillion in discretionary spending that funds agency operations, representing about one-quarter of the government’s $7 trillion budget. Without congressional action, federal agencies could face significant disruptions, including furloughs for workers at NASA, the Department of War, and other agencies. A Pentagon contingency plan indicates that 334,904 of its 741,477 civilian workers would be furloughed, while 182,684 would remain on the job, along with 223,889 deemed necessary to protect life and property.
Democrats are leveraging the shutdown threat to restore funding for healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which are set to expire at the end of the year. These subsidies could prevent steep premium increases estimated at 75% by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
“My constituents, Americans, are standing on a cliff right now with these insurance premium increases that are upon them,” Klobuchar said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday. “It’s not a December thing. It’s not a January thing. It is something we have to get done now.”
Schumer, speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” emphasized the urgency, warning that healthcare cuts could lead to the closure of rural hospitals and higher premiums.
“We don’t want a shutdown,” he said. “We hope that they sit down and have a serious negotiation with us.”
Republicans, however, insist on passing a short-term funding bill first. Thune, appearing on “Meet the Press,” argued that healthcare issues cannot be resolved by Tuesday and accused Democrats of holding the public “hostage” with a shutdown.
“This decision, in my judgment at this point in time, is up to a handful of Democrats,” Thune said, noting that a House-passed bill to extend funding through November 21 awaits Senate approval but lacks the 60 votes needed due to Democratic opposition, CBS News reported.
The House, controlled by Republicans, passed the temporary funding measure on September 19, but it was defeated in the Senate, where Republicans hold 53 seats. Sixty votes are needed to pass the measure in the Senate.
Democrats have urged Republicans to negotiate, with Schumer calling Monday’s meeting a “first step” after Trump canceled an earlier discussion, dismissing Democratic demands as “unserious and ridiculous.”
Trump, speaking to CBS News on Sunday, suggested a shutdown is likely unless Democrats relent. He tied healthcare talks to immigration, insisting that any negotiations must address border security and prevent undocumented migrants from accessing public benefits.
“I just don’t know how we are going to solve this issue,” he said, per CBS News, adding that Democratic demands are “not acceptable for us.”
Democrats remain united, with moderates like Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI) and Rep. Joe Courtney ( D-CT) highlighting the stakes. Scholten noted the impact on her district’s U.S. Coast Guard installation and children’s cancer research. At the same time, Courtney expressed concerns about proposed cuts to medical research at Yale University and the University of Connecticut.
“It’s devastating to patients who are in clinical trials,” Courtney said, Reuters reported.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries rejected a potential compromise in which Democrats would support a short-term bill in exchange for later votes on healthcare, citing distrust.
“Now, we’re supposed to believe, with a wink and a nod, that Republican leaders are actually interested in dealing with the Affordable Care Act issue?” Jeffries said on Friday, Reuters reported.
The standoff risks a public backlash, with some Democratic aides warning that a shutdown could harm their party’s image ahead of the 2026 midterms if they fail to communicate their case effectively.
Thune criticized Democrats’ strategy, calling it “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and warning, “They’re playing with fire, and they know it,” according to Reuters.
Since 1981, the U.S. has seen 14 partial government shutdowns, with the longest lasting 35 days in 2018-2019 over immigration disputes. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the 2018 shutdown caused $3 billion in permanent losses.
As the clock ticks toward the deadline, the outcome hinges on whether Monday’s White House talks can bridge the partisan divide.