Anadolu: US Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Monday demanded a meeting with Republican leaders to discuss a government shutdown deadline.
Sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker Mike Johnson, they asked for a “Big Four” meeting to discuss a bipartisan path forward to fund the government.
“We write in connection with the September 30 government funding deadline that fast approaches,” the lawmakers said in the letter.
Schumer and Jeffries said the House and Senate majority leaders “have the responsibility to govern for all Americans and work on a bipartisan basis to avert a painful, unnecessary shutdown at the end of September.”
“Yet it is clear that the Trump Administration and many within your party are preparing to ‘go it alone’ and continue to legislate on a solely Republican basis,” they added.
They also criticized congressional Republicans for pursuing a partisan agenda and urged a return to cooperation to fund the federal government.
“We request you swiftly convene a so-called Big Four meeting this week, for the four of us to discuss the government funding deadline and the health care crisis you have visited upon the American people. We anticipate your prompt reply,” they wrote.
Government funding is set to expire on Sept. 30, and President Donald Trump has not yet signed any of the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills into law.
