Senior Democrats on Capitol Hill say neither the White House nor the president is speaking with them about a deal to fund the government. Their statements contradict those of President Donald Trump, who has said negotiations are ongoing.
“We have a negotiation going on right now with the Democrats that could lead to very good things,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday. “We are speaking with the Democrats, and some very good things could happen with respect to health care.”
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According to the two top Democrats on Capitol Hill and other senior members, that’s not true.
“As I understand it, he has not been speaking to any Democrats,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
“The White House has gone radio silent since the Oval Office meeting last Monday, and neither Leader Schumer or myself have heard a word from the administration,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told reporters.
“I’ve checked around and not a single one says they’ve had a conversation with the president of the United States,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. “Not one.”
The problem
The federal government ran out of money and shut down due to a dispute over health care. Democrats want Affordable Care Act tax credits extended before they expire at the end of the year. Those subsidies help Americans who get health insurance through the federal online marketplace pay their premiums. Democrats also want to repeal the Medicaid cuts Republicans approved in July.
Republicans oppose the ACA tax credit extension because many were originally passed during the pandemic; they want the program scaled back.
“That’s the problem with ‘Obamacare.’ The subsidies are so much, billions and billions of dollars are being wasted, and we’re talking to them,” Trump said.
Republicans contend that Democrats should vote to fund the government on a temporary basis, and such disagreements can be resolved in a bill that will last for all of fiscal year 2026.
Are there any negotiations happening?
The only work that appears to be happening is some mid-level negotiations between senators to make a deal on health care, which would likely be written in stone after the government is funded and reopens.
“We want to get a fix to this health care problem that is really bad in Virginia that the Republicans created with the reconciliation bill,” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told reporters. “And I have some colleagues who are working on that negotiation, and a number of Republicans who want to fix it too.”
While the government is shut down, members of Congress continue to get paid, while their staff and Capitol Police officers are required to work without pay.
