As the September 30, deadline to fund the government draws near, President Donald Trump has announced plans to meet with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. However, Trump expressed little hope for a successful outcome during a recent press conference where he unveiled this year’s Kennedy Center honorees.
“But it’s almost a waste of time to meet, because they never approve anything,” Trump stated. “I don’t believe anybody is capable of making a deal with these people. They have gone crazy.”
WATCH:
While presenting The Kennedy Center Honorees, President Trump is asked if he will meet with Democrat leaders.
"I will I guess but it's almost a waste of time to meet because they never approve anything….If we want money to fight crime, only good things, just good things. Let's… pic.twitter.com/oz46ktKjdg
— DeVory Darkins (@devorydarkins) August 13, 2025
Congress Faces a Tight Timeline
With lawmakers currently on recess in their home districts and states, the clock is ticking. When they return to Washington, D.C., after Labor Day, they’ll have just weeks to finalize the dozen spending bills needed to keep the government operational.
Without action, the nation risks a partial government shutdown, a scenario that has become all too familiar in recent years. The traditional process of passing individual spending bills (also known as a regular order) hasn’t been achieved in decades, and Congress is likely to lean on a temporary funding extension, or continuing resolution (CR), to avoid a crisis.
Partisan Divide Threatens Progress
Tensions between Republicans and Democrats are already complicating the path forward. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has prioritized moving spending bills, and before the recess, the Senate passed three measures funding military construction, Veterans Affairs, agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the legislative branch. However, any CR will need to pass the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, requiring Democratic support.
Democrats remain frustrated after Republicans pushed through Trump’s $9 billion clawback package, which cut funding for NPR, PBS, and foreign aid. They’ve warned that further cuts could derail bipartisan negotiations.
“We all want to pursue a bipartisan, bicameral appropriations process,” Schumer said before the Senate’s recent votes. “That’s how it’s always been done, successfully, and we believe that, however, the Republicans are making it extremely difficult to do that.”
A Legacy of Funding Fights
Earlier this year, Schumer briefly considered allowing a government shutdown, a decision that sparked intense criticism within his party and raised doubts about his leadership. Ultimately, he joined Republicans to pass a measure, keeping the government running but exposing fractures among Senate Democrats.
With Trump skeptical of reaching an agreement and Democrats wary of Republican tactics, Congress faces a critical test of its ability to bridge divides and secure funding to keep the government operational.
The Fairview Gazette will keep you updated on any news out of Congress.
