Trump to meet top congressional leaders on Sept 29, White House official says
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The federal government is on the brink of its 15th partial shutdown since 1981.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump will meet with the top Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress on Sept 29 to discuss government funding ahead of a Sept 30 deadline to keep the government open, a White House official said on Sept 27.
Mr Trump had previously scrapped a meeting with the top congressional Democrats
Mr Jeffries and Mr Schumer released a joint statement late on Sept 27 confirming the Sept 29 meeting, and said: “We are resolute in our determination to avoid a government shutdown.”
The federal government is on the brink of its 15th partial shutdown since 1981 because lawmakers have failed to agree on a plan for discretionary funding for the new fiscal year, or about one-quarter of the US$7 trillion (S$9 trillion) budget.
On Sept 19, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a stopgap Bill to fund the government through Nov 21. The Bill fell short in the Senate, where Republicans needed 60 votes.
Senate Democrats rejected the Bill, demanding that any legislation undo recent cuts to healthcare programmes.
Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate compared with the 47 held by Democrats, and have a 219-213 majority in the House.
News of Mr Trump’s meeting with congressional leaders on Sept 29 was first reported by Punchbowl News. REUTERS
