It looks like President Donald Trump may be gearing up for a showdown at Congress ahead of the government shutdown. Trump’s scheduled meeting with congressional leaders on Monday comes as the U.S. government is facing a partial shutdown from midnight on Wednesday unless lawmakers can agree on a spending bill.
In the U.S., a government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass legislation to fund federal agencies, typically due to disagreements over the federal budget. The government’s fiscal year ends on Sept. 30, so shutdowns often begin in October if no budget or temporary funding bill (continuing resolution) is approved in time. During a shutdown, non-essential government operations halt, and many federal employees are furloughed or work without pay.
The standoff comes after Democrats in the U.S. Senate earlier this month rejected a Republican-drafted stopgap spending bill to keep the government running until Nov. 21, with the Democrats arguing that any spending bill should include provisions to expand healthcare coverage, including by reversing cuts to Medicaid that were included in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
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In interviews on Sunday, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer traded blame for the impasse.
“The ball is in their court,” Thune told NBC News’s “Meet the Press.” “There is a bill sitting at the desk in the Senate right now, we could pick it up today and pass it.”
Democrats, led by Schumer, have firmly opposed the bill, insisting that any funding agreement must reverse Medicaid cuts and extend ACA subsidies set to expire soon. They warn that failure to do so would increase healthcare costs for millions of Americans and leave many without coverage. This disagreement has stalled negotiations, risking a government shutdown that would halt many federal operations.
Speaking on the same program, Schumer described the meeting with Trump and his Republican counterparts as “only a first step” to resolving the issue.
“We need a serious negotiation,” Schumer said.
“Now, if the president at this meeting is going to rant, and just yell at Democrats, and talk about all his alleged grievances, and say this, that, and the other thing, we won’t get anything done. But my hope is it’ll be a serious negotiation.”
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Reuters reports that with three days to go before a U.S. government shutdown, an advocacy group that tracks federal spending warns that about $8 billion approved by Congress for healthcare and education is at risk of going unused, held back by the Trump administration.
Programs dependent on this funding might face interruptions, delaying or halting support to millions who rely on healthcare services and educational initiatives. It underscores how political battles over budget priorities can directly affect public programs, adding urgency and pressure on lawmakers to reach an agreement and prevent further disruptions.
For Trump, the shutdown represents both a strategic opportunity to rally his base around fiscal conservatism and a potential political liability if the stalemate harms public services and the economy. However, prolonged shutdown damage could weaken his influence among moderates ahead of the 2026 midterms, complicating his broader political ambitions. Both parties grapple with balancing policy priorities against voter backlash in a high-stakes budget showdown.
Shutdowns are generally the result of political gridlock, often involving debates over spending priorities like defense, healthcare, or immigration. They end once Congress passes and the president signs new funding legislation.