One week left: Government shutdown threat intensifies as deadline approaches

WASHINGTON —

With just seven days left until a funding deadline, lawmakers are locked in a heated battle to keep the government open. But there's little time to pass a budget as lawmakers remain off on holiday break and won't return until Monday.

Democrats pinned blame on President Donald Trump after he abruptly canceled a scheduled meeting with Democratic leaders on Tuesday. In a social media post, Trump called Democrats' demands "unserious and ridiculous" and said no meeting could "possibly be productive."

At the heart of the conflict is Democrats' demands to reverse recent cuts to Medicaid, which provides health insurance for low-income individuals and those with disabilities, and to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. Experts warn that if lawmakers allow the subsidies to exp