As the clock ticks toward Tuesday midnight, the U.S. faces a real chance of a federal government shutdown—Vice President JD Vance warned that Congress is "headed to a shutdown" after talks with Democrats at the White House fell flat.
President Trump and Democratic leaders emerged blaming each other for the impasse over extending government funding past the deadline. At stake is $1.7 trillion in discretionary spending—about a quarter of the $7 trillion annual budget—that powers everything from NASA missions to national parks.
Healthcare vs. Government Funding
Democrats insist any short-term deal preserve expiring health benefits tied to the Affordable Care Act, pointing to 24 million Americans who could see insurance costs spike if temporary tax breaks lapse at year's end. Republicans, backed by the White House, argue that healthcare and funding must be tackled separately.
"Accepting the Republican plan to continue to assault and gut healthcare is unacceptable," House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said. On the other side, Vance countered that mixing policy ideas with basic funding is unreasonable leverage that risks shutting down services.
What's at Stake
- Thousands of federal workers may be furloughed, from court clerks to grant officers.
- NASA projects and national parks could pause operations without funding.
- Federal courts might close, and small-business grants could be delayed.
The Road Ahead
Senate Republican Leader John Thune scheduled a Tuesday vote on a GOP proposal extending funding to November 21—a plan Democrats have already rejected. In their own bid, Democrats floated a shorter extension of 7–10 days to buy time for deeper budget talks, but Schumer has refused to budge.
This standoff echoes 14 past partial shutdowns since 1981—most over in days, except the 35-day halt in 2018–2019. With midterm elections in 2026 looming, both parties are eager to rally their bases, leaving little room for compromise.
As the deadline nears, markets, agencies, and millions of Americans are left to wonder: will Congress break the cycle, or is a shutdown all but certain?
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Vance says U.S. 'headed to a shutdown' after meeting with Democrats
cgtn.com
