Overview

• An Oval Office meeting is set for Monday with President Trump, Senate leaders John Thune and Chuck Schumer, and House leaders Mike Johnson and Hakeem Jeffries.
• A partial shutdown would begin early Wednesday without new funding, and any stopgap bill needs 60 Senate votes despite Republicans holding 53 seats.
• Republicans want a seven-week, clean continuing resolution, while Democratic leaders are withholding votes without extending enhanced ACA premium tax credits and reversing recent Medicaid cuts.
• The White House budget office directed agencies to prepare layoff plans and consider reduction-in-force notices if funding lapses, though essential services like Social Security, Medicare, veterans’ benefits, air traffic control and USPS would continue.
• Both parties are trading blame before the meeting, with GOP leaders insisting the Senate pass the House stopgap and Democrats calling for immediate health-care negotiations tied to the funding measure.