Government Shutdown Looms Over Healthcare Funding Dispute in US

President Donald Trump and congressional leaders are locked in a contentious standoff over government funding that risks triggering a shutdown, primarily due to disagreements over healthcare provisions. Democrats insist that any budget deal must preserve expiring health benefits, while Republicans want to separate healthcare issues from funding negotiations. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer warned of significant partisan differences that could lead to a shutdown, blaming Republicans for proposing cuts to healthcare that Democrats oppose. Republican leaders accuse Democrats of using healthcare as leverage and blame them for the impasse, while critics argue that the GOP's budget priorities favor tax breaks for the wealthy over affordable healthcare. The deadlock endangers thousands of federal jobs and critical services, with a funding extension having passed the House but stalled in the Senate. President Trump has called for last-minute talks with congressional leaders to avert the shutdown, but the outcome remains uncertain as the deadline approaches.