Trump, Congressional Leaders Fail to Reach Deal to Avoid Shutdown

Both sides remain deadlocked as a government closure looms.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) (C), Vice President JD Vance (R), and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) speak at the White House on Sept. 29, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

Congressional leaders failed to reach an agreement on a stopgap spending resolution that would avert a government shutdown at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) met with President Donald Trump on the afternoon of Sept. 29 but remained deadlocked as Democrats continued to demand significant additional spending on health care in exchange for their votes.