Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Sep 30: The United States is on the verge of a federal government shutdown, with no breakthrough emerging from a high-stakes meeting between President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders at the White House. If lawmakers fail to reach a funding agreement by midnight Tuesday, large swathes of the federal government could come to a grinding halt.

Following the meeting, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer revealed that he and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had warned the president about the real-world impacts of looming cuts — particularly to healthcare — but said Trump appeared caught off guard.

“We laid out to the president some of the consequences of what’s happening in health care, and by his face, he looked like he heard about them for the first time,” Schumer said, highlighting deep divisions over Medicaid cuts included in the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” passed earlier this year.

Shutdown Looms Amid Partisan Deadlock

Vice President JD Vance signaled that a shutdown is likely, blaming Democrats for the impasse.

“I think we’re headed into a shutdown because Democrats won’t do the right thing. I hope they change their mind, but we’re going to see,” Vance said during a press briefing.

Democrats are demanding that the GOP roll back Medicaid cuts, while Republicans — who control both chambers of Congress — have proposed a temporary funding extension until November 21. However, the Senate funding bill needs 60 votes to pass, and the Republicans are seven votes short, leaving them reliant on Democratic support.

If the clock runs out without a deal, it would mark the first U.S. government shutdown since 2018, which also occurred under Trump’s leadership and lasted 35 days, the longest in American history.

Federal Workers on Edge as Essential Services Brace

The Trump administration has further escalated tensions by threatening to lay off more federal employees during the shutdown. While critical operations — including border security, law enforcement, and air traffic control — would remain functional, many other services face disruption.

Among the most vulnerable sectors:

• Food assistance programs (including SNAP benefits)
• Government-funded pre-schools (e.g., Head Start)
• Food safety inspections
• National parks and public lands

If the shutdown stretches on, air travel could suffer major disruptions, as TSA agents and air traffic controllers may be required to work without pay, increasing the risk of absenteeism and system slowdowns.

High Stakes, Low Trust

The political standoff reflects broader dysfunction in Washington, as both parties hold firm on key ideological issues. While Republicans tout fiscal discipline, Democrats argue the budget cuts disproportionately harm low-income Americans and threaten access to vital services.

With just hours remaining, the prospect of a last-minute compromise appears dim, and millions of Americans may soon feel the effects of another bitter showdown in the nation’s capital.