Trump to Host Last-Ditch Talks to Avoid Government Shutdown

Trump to Host Last-Ditch Talks to Avoid Government Shutdown

Washington September 12, 2025 With just days to go before a potential government shutdown, President Donald Trump is set to meet with congressional leaders on Monday in a high-stakes attempt to keep the federal government funded.

The government’s funding authority expires at midnight on September 30, and while negotiators have been scrambling to strike a deal, partisan clashes over spending priorities and policy riders have stalled progress.

The Stakes

A shutdown would furlough hundreds of thousands of federal workers, disrupt government services, and potentially shake investor confidence at a time when the economy is already navigating stubborn inflation and higher borrowing costs.

The White House says Trump will use Monday’s meeting to press both Republicans and Democrats to “find common ground” and pass a short-term continuing resolution while broader spending disagreements are worked out.

Points of Contention

• Domestic Spending: Democrats are resisting proposed cuts to housing, education, and healthcare programs.

• Border and Immigration: Republicans have demanded significant boosts to border security funding and stricter limits on immigration programs.

• Ukraine Aid: A new tranche of military assistance for Kyiv remains a flashpoint, with some GOP lawmakers threatening to block any funding that includes foreign aid.

Political Dynamics

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has struggled to unify his caucus, as hardline conservatives push for deeper spending cuts while moderates warn of the political risks of a shutdown. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has urged Trump to take a firmer stance against his own party’s holdouts.

Trump, for his part, has framed the talks as an opportunity to reset negotiations. “The American people want their government to work, not close down,” he said in remarks Friday. “We’re going to get this done.”

Centrist View

From a centrist perspective, the looming showdown highlights Washington’s recurring dysfunction: both sides say they want to avoid a shutdown, yet neither has shown much willingness to compromise on core priorities. Trump’s direct involvement could break the logjam, or simply raise the political stakes further.

Either way, Monday’s talks are shaping up as the last clear chance to avert a shutdown with minimal disruption.