President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will not meet with congressional Democratic leaders to discuss averting a government shutdown, calling their terms “unserious and ridiculous” in a post on Truth Social.
In the message, Trump alleged Democrats are seeking “over $1 trillion” in new spending and pushing policies he opposes, including taxpayer-funded health care for undocumented immigrants and medical procedures for minors. He said a meeting “could possibly be [not] productive” under those conditions and added he would sit down with them “if they get serious about the future of our Nation.” He closed by telling Democratic leaders, “the ball is in your court.”
The standoff comes days before the government’s funding expires at midnight between Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. A partial shutdown would begin without a stopgap bill or full-year appropriations, with many nonessential operations pausing while essential services continue, according to Reuters.
Trump tied his refusal to claims about Democrats’ policy aims and cited his own election victory as validation for his position. He also defended a $50 billion rural and vulnerable hospital fund and said he would be “happy to meet” if Democrats agree to the principles outlined in his post.
What happens next: Without an agreement in the coming days, agencies would implement contingency plans, and some federal workers could face furloughs or delayed pay while Congress works toward a funding deal, as reported by Reuters.
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