WASHINGTON – In hopes of avoiding a fast-approaching government shutdown, President Donald Trump will meet this week with the two top Democrats in Congress.

The president is slated to sit down with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Thursday, Sept. 25, to negotiate over government funding, according to a person familiar with the matter. It wasn't immediately clear exactly when or where the meeting, which hasn’t been officially announced yet and was first reported by Punchbowl News, will take place.

The dialogue represents a significant chance for Democrats and the White House, after weeks of talking past each other, to reconcile their differences and stave off a shutdown. Government funding lapses in just over a week, and failed votes in the Senate last week brought neither side closer to a deal.

In recent weeks, Republicans have largely been in favor of keeping the government funded at current levels until just before Thanksgiving.

Democrats, meanwhile, say they won't support any funding extensions that don't address a slate of demands related to health care. Specifically, they want to reverse Medicaid cuts and extend expiring Obamacare subsidies. The GOP, so far, has refused to budge on either of those issues.

Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump to meet with Democrats as shutdown inches closer

Reporting by Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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