The United States is on the verge of another government shutdown. A high-level meeting between President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders in Congress on Monday ended without an agreement. If the budget is not approved by midnight Tuesday, the government will partially shut down, which could have a major impact on federal employees and the general public.
White House meeting ends in stalemate
The meeting, held at the White House, was attended by House Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican-Louisiana), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (Republican-South Dakota), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (Democrat-New York) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (Democrat-New York). After hours of talks, both sides said key differences still remain.
Republicans want to pass a “clean” short-term budget bill, where there will be no additional spending on healthcare and social security. On the other hand, Democrats have made it clear that they will not accept any bill unless they restore healthcare subsidies and prevent cuts to Medicaid.
Senate Leader Chuck Schumer said, “There are still big differences in our positions. There is no agreement at this time.”
Potential impact of shutdown
If a budget deal is not reached by midnight, thousands of government employees will be furloughed and many non-essential services will be shut down. This will impact several key sectors:
- Air travel: Airlines have warned that budget constraints could slow air traffic control and security checks, increasing the risk of flight delays.
- Healthcare and Social Security: Millions of people could lose health insurance or see premiums increase if Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies are suspended.
- Research and environmental projects: Many programs in NASA, scientific research, and environmental conservation may be closed.
- Economy: As with previous shutdowns, this one could also reduce consumer confidence and negatively impact economic growth.
If no agreement is reached, the United States will enter another shutdown, which will have an impact on everything from the economy to the daily lives of ordinary people.
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