WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump was due to meet with congressional leaders on Monday in a last-ditch effort to head off a government shutdown that could disrupt a wide range of services as soon as Wednesday.
It was unclear whether the afternoon White House meeting will yield an agreement to extend government funding beyond a Tuesday midnight (0400 GMT Wednesday) deadline. Democrats say any agreement to extend government funding must also preserve expiring health benefits. Trump’s Republicans insist health and government funding must be dealt with as separate issues.
If Congress does not act, thousands of federal government workers could be furloughed, from NASA to the national parks, and a wide range of services would be disrupted. Federal courts might have to close and grants for sm