US Government Shutdown Looms as Trump Rejects Democratic Health Care Demands

President Donald Trump canceled a planned meeting with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries that was intended to negotiate government funding and avoid a shutdown ahead of the September 30 fiscal deadline. Trump rejected Democratic demands to renew health care subsidies and reverse Medicaid cuts, calling their requests "unserious" and "ridiculous," and insisted no meeting would be productive unless Democrats became more serious about government funding. Democrats, led by Schumer and Jeffries, have emphasized the importance of protecting health care programs, viewing these as non-negotiable conditions to prevent a shutdown. The standoff highlights a broader political impasse, with Republicans opposing increased spending on health care for immigrants and gender transition treatments. While a partial government shutdown appears increasingly likely, financial markets expect limited short-term disruption, though prolonged funding lapses could harm economic growth. The ongoing dispute underscores the high stakes of budget negotiations and the deep partisan divides in Congress regarding health care funding and government operations.