Vice President JD Vance will speak next to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senator John Tune (R-SD) on the day US President Donald Trump meets with top congressional leaders of both parties.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
The imminent federal closure is even more likely after meeting President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.
“I think we’re heading for a shutdown because Democrats aren’t doing the right thing,” Vice President JD Vance told reporters after the meeting.
Democrat participants, minority leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer similarly said the two remained far apart.
“There’s a huge difference between us,” Schumer said after the meeting. However, he added that he believes Trump has “first time” heard Democrats’ objections.
Both sides continued to argue that if the government closes from Wednesday, others will be held responsible.
“It’s up to Republicans to see if they want to close,” Schumer said.
Republicans who hold the White House and slim majority in both Houses of Congress want to pass a suspension bill to maintain federal funds until late November.
Democrats require the bill, known as the ongoing solution, to include funding and protections for a small number of important measures, particularly the expansion of the Obamacare tax credit, which is due to expire at the end of the year.
Republicans have accused Democrats of rejecting a “clean” resolution to prevent the government from being shut down.
“This is purely hostage-taking,” Senate majority leader John Tune (Rs.D.) said after Monday’s meeting.
But Democrats say they’ve been locked out of the process.
“Their bill doesn’t have one democratic input IOTA. That’s what we’ve never done before,” Schumer said.
The short-term funding bill failed to avoid a closure earlier this month in the Senate, which requires 60 votes to overcome the filibuster. Republicans hold a 53 vote majority in the Chamber of Commerce.
