The United States is on the verge of a partial government shutdown, with President Donald Trump set to meet today with senior Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress. Unless a deal is reached, the shutdown could begin Wednesday at midnight.
The urgent talks come amid intense political deadlock, as lawmakers have yet to approve a temporary budget measure that would keep federal agencies funded through November 21.
Last month, Senate Democrats rejected a Republican-backed bill, arguing it failed to provide support for healthcare programs, including the restoration of Medicaid funds cut under Trump’s earlier “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
Republicans insist healthcare should be addressed separately as part of a broader financial package.
Although Republicans currently hold 53 of the Senate’s 100 seats, passing a budget bill requires 60 votes, meaning bipartisan cooperation is essential.
If no agreement is reached by the deadline, many federal agencies will suspend operations, leaving employees temporarily unpaid. Non-essential staff would be furloughed, while essential personnel would work without immediate pay, with compensation expected later.
This would not be the first government shutdown in U.S. history. According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, since 1980 there have been 14 shutdowns, most of short duration. The longest lasted 34 days, from late 2018 to early 2019.
