President Donald Trump has canceled a planned meeting with top Democratic leaders just days before a potential federal government shutdown according to CNN.
The meeting, which was scheduled for Tuesday, was expected to focus on passing a continuing resolution to keep the government funded beyond the September 30 deadline. Without congressional action, large parts of the federal government risk shutting down, disrupting services and furloughing workers.
The White House has not offered details on why the meeting was canceled. However, officials have said Trump wants Congress to include provisions for border security funding in any budget extension, a sticking point in previous shutdown battles.
The United States has faced several government shutdowns in recent years, often triggered by budget disputes. The last major shutdown in 2018–2019 lasted 35 days, the longest in U.S. history, and cost the economy billions of dollars.
According to CNN, “While a single meeting between Trump and the Democrats was unlikely to result in a swift deal to avert a shutdown altogether, it had been the most tangible indication yet that party leaders would come to the table to negotiate on funding. Now, with each party publicly trading barbs and refusing to cave, the prospect of a shutdown seems more serious than ever.”
With less than a week to strike a deal, both parties face mounting pressure to compromise or risk another costly shutdown. Negotiations are expected to continue in the coming days.