A White House meeting on Monday with top Republican and Democratic congressional leaders yielded no budget breakthrough, with both sides trading blame less than 36 hours before government funding runs out.

"Large differences" remained between the two sides, top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer told reporters after the last-gasp meeting hosted by President Donald Trump.

Vice President JD Vance meanwhile accused the Democrats of putting "a gun to the American people's head" with their funding demands.

"I think we're headed to a shutdown because the Democrats won't do the right thing," he said.

Without Congress passing a bill to fund federal operations before midnight Tuesday night, the government will partially close up shop -- and plunge Washington into a new round of political crisis.

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