WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump and Democrats emerged from a private White House meeting on Sept. 29 without an agreement to keep the federal government open, setting up the prospects of a wide-scale shutdown in major services beginning in about 30 hours.

After sitting down at the White House, the president and the four top congressional leaders failed to strike a deal. If funding expires at midnight on Oct. 1 – which appeared likely absent any unexpected breakthrough – a shutdown will start at 12:01 a.m.

"There was a frank and direct discussion with the president of the United States and Republican leaders," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters after the meeting with the president. But he added that "significant and meaningful differences remain."

The leaders

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