() The government is set to shut down Wednesday if Democrats and Republicans cannot agree on a funding bill to keep it open.
Significant differences persisted following a Monday afternoon meeting at the White House with leaders from both parties, marking the first time President Donald Trump participated since the negotiations started.
Neither side seems hopeful that a breakthrough will be reached in time to stop a shutdown.
Democrats are demanding changes to the bill.
They are seeking to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies, set to expire at the end of 2025, which assist individuals purchasing health insurance through the exchange in affording premiums. They also want to reverse some of the Medicaid funding cuts implemented in the “big, beautiful bill,” and prohibit recissions, ensuring when Congress allocates funds, Trump cannot reclaim them.
Democrats are standing firm that unless they get all three of those concessions, they will not vote for the temporary funding bill.
Conversely, Republicans propose passing a straightforward bill to fund the government at current levels, allowing a few additional weeks for both parties to negotiate a more comprehensive funding agreement.
Democratic House Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., made it clear what the stakes are.
“We’ve stated clearly our willingness to pursue a bipartisan approach to a spending bill shaped by both Democrats and Republicans, but it must address the American people’s needs,” Jeffries emphasized. “We refuse to merely accept a Republican bill that continues to dismantle the health care provisions crucial to everyday Americans already struggling with this Trump economy, where expenses are not decreasing but increasing. Inflation is rising. Donald Trump and Republicans pledged to decrease the high cost of living on Day 1.”
Jeffries highlighted that if the ACA subsidies lapse, the cost of health care for tens of millions of Americans could surge by thousands of dollars annually.
“Democrats are fighting to protect the health care of the American people,” he said.
Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., seemed to be on the same page.
The last time this happened, in March, Schumer and nine other Senate Democrats voted with Republicans to avoid a shutdown.
This time, it seems like both chambers are in lockstep.
Meanwhile, House Republicans remain united, telling members during a phone call that they believe the general public will align with them on the issues.
Republicans are claiming Democrats want to provide health care to people who are in the U.S. illegally, something Democrats have pushed back on.
But in the Washington Post, Sen. Republican Leader John Thune said in an op-ed, “There’s a difference between careful discussion and negotiation during the appropriations process and taking government funding hostage to jam more than a trillion dollars in big government spending in a funding bill designed to last mere weeks.”
Republicans are casting blame on the Democrats as government workers who could face furloughs or layoffs wait to find out what will happen.
“We think the American people are gonna suffer because these guys won’t do the right thing,” said Vice President JD Vance.
