1 of 4 | Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY, speak to the press outside the West Wing after meeting with President Donald Trump as the government faces a midnight Wednesday deadline to avert a government shutdown. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The chances of a government shutdown increased on Monday after congressional leaders from both parties, during a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, weren't able to agree on a stopgap funding bill less than 48 hours before the deadline.
Without the funding bill signed by Trump, the government will run out of money, starting after midnight Wednesday.
Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both serving New York, have said they won't support any stopgap bill unless it protects healthcare programs. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dajota, both Republicans, don't want to restore recent Medicaid cuts, and it omits an extension of the currently enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits scheduled to expire.
The congressional leaders spoke separately with reporters outside the White House. Trump didn't comment, including on Truth Social.
