Congress Faces Deadline as Government Shutdown Looms
Time is running short on Capitol Hill as lawmakers scramble to reach an agreement that would keep the federal government funded and avert a shutdown. With a deadline of Tuesday night, negotiations between the White House and congressional leaders remain tense, and the likelihood of compromise appears slim.
High-Stakes Negotiations
President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Democratic leaders today in an attempt to finalize the details of a spending bill. But expectations for progress are low. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made the administration’s position clear, telling reporters Monday morning that there is “nothing to negotiate.”
Democrats, meanwhile, insist they will not back down from their demand to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies, also known as Obamacare tax credits. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said his party will not settle for promises of future debate on the issue. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed the stance, calling the extension a non-negotiable condition of Democratic support.
Republicans, who hold majorities in both the House and Senate, cannot pass the bill without at least seven Democratic votes. GOP leaders are pushing for a seven-week extension of government funding while also seeking additional money for security across the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. That request follows heightened threats against political leaders, including the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a Sunday CNN interview that Trump plans to use the Monday meeting to persuade Democrats to pass the package without the ACA credits. The talks are particularly significant after the president abruptly canceled a similar meeting last week, dismissing Democratic demands as “totally unreasonable.”
What a Shutdown Could Mean
If Congress fails to reach a deal by midnight on October 1, the government will enter a shutdown. Many agencies and services would suspend operations until new funding is approved. Essential programs like Medicare and Social Security would continue, and Border Patrol and law enforcement services would remain in place. However, other critical areas—from food inspections to immigration hearings—could see disruptions.
During shutdowns, agencies are required to submit contingency plans outlining what functions will continue. Employees deemed essential often must keep working without pay. This time, though, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not published an overall plan on its website, leaving individual agencies to post their own. The piecemeal approach has made it harder to assess the full scope of what a shutdown would look like.
The last federal government shutdown, in late 2018 during Trump’s first term, lasted 35 days—the longest in U.S. history. That stoppage delayed federal loan approvals, disrupted business operations, and created widespread uncertainty for government employees. Lawmakers are warning that another shutdown could carry even greater consequences, especially as the Trump administration has already taken steps to shrink the size of government since January.
Democrats Fear Cuts, Republicans Push Control
Democratic leaders say they worry Trump could use a shutdown as leverage to permanently eliminate funding for programs his administration opposes. Republicans argue that tighter spending is necessary to control costs and ensure security funding at a time of growing threats.
Congress has the option of passing a full-year funding package or a shorter “continuing resolution” that extends current funding temporarily. GOP leaders prefer the latter, but Democrats insist that any plan must also include ACA subsidy extensions.
With the deadline looming, both sides appear unwilling to budge—leaving federal workers, businesses, and citizens bracing for another possible government closure.
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