Will the US government collapse?
Trump’s opposition to meeting with Democrats is significant because the two sides are locked in a tense race, with Democrats insisting they will not vote to extend the budget without Trump making concessions to them, a standoff that could lead to the first government shutdown since 2019, Axios reported.
Trump wrote on the social media site Truth Social on Tuesday: “After reviewing the details of the frivolous and ridiculous demands of the left-wing Democrats in exchange for a vote to keep our government running, I have concluded that no meeting with Congressional leaders will likely be productive.”
US lawmakers have until October 1 to approve the budget extension.
The federal government must pass a budget by midnight on September 30, or it will shut down. With Congress adjourning and the Senate returning just two days before the deadline, the window of opportunity for a deal is narrow.
Trump has said he would welcome a meeting with Democrats as long as they are “realistic about the issues the country stands for” (meaning US policies and actions).
Democrats have been asking Republicans to compromise on health care issues they are demanding in exchange for their votes to keep the government funded. But Republican leaders have so far been reluctant to negotiate with Democrats beyond a temporary funding bill.
Senate Republicans need at least seven Democratic votes to pass a budget.
Trump is no stranger to federal shutdowns, having experienced the longest government shutdown in his first term.
However, with another shutdown looming in a week, the Trump administration has yet to release the contingency plans of federal agencies for how they will manage the shutdown until Congress approves their budgets for the next fiscal year.
These plans, traditionally published on the White House Office of Management and Budget website, outline what federal services will continue to operate and which workers will have to continue working, often without pay. The information could be crucial for residents, businesses, contractors, and others involved with the federal government.