U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks next to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) on the day U.S. President Donald Trump meets with top congressional leaders from both parties, just ahead of a September 30 deadline to fund the government and avoid a shutdown, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., Sept. 29, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
A looming federal government shutdown appeared even more likely after top Democrats and Republicans met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.
“I think we’re headed to a shutdown because the Democrats won’t do the right thing,” Vice President JD Vance told reporters after the meeting, which came less than two days before the shutdown will begin in the absence of a funding deal.
The Democratic participants, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, likewise suggested that the two sides remain far apart.
“We have very large differences,” Schumer said after the meeting. But he added that he believes Trump heard Democrats’ objections “for the first time,” suggesting the face-to-face was at least partially constructive.
Both sides continued to assert that the other would be to blame if the government does shut down starting Wednesday.
“It’s up to the Republicans whether they want to shut down or not,” Schumer said.
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