WASHINGTON — House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said President Donald Trump and the Republican Party are "marching the country" into a government shutdown over their refusal to meet with Democrats and strike a deal to stop health care funding cuts.

Jeffries told the Associated Press in an interview late Friday that he remained hopeful Congress could reach an agreement to prevent a federal funding lapse this week ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline. However, he noted Republicans canceled this week's House voting session and Trump canceled his meeting with the Democratic leaders last week.

Trump's budget office ordered federal agencies to prepare a mass firing of federal workers, rather than the typical temporary employee furlough, if the federal government were to close. Republican House Sp

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