Hakeem Jeffries: Trump Leading Nation Into Shutdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused President Trump and Republicans of pushing the U.S. toward a government shutdown by refusing to negotiate over health care subsidies. He urged Trump to show leadership and return to Washington as the funding deadline nears. Republicans argue Democrats’ demands are unreasonable and politically motivated.
Government Shutdown Fight Quick Looks
- Funding deadline: Oct. 1, 2025
- Jeffries says Trump and GOP “marching country” into shutdown
- Trump canceled meeting with Democratic leaders this week
- GOP proposal to extend funding failed in Senate
- Democrats demand ACA subsidy extension to prevent premium hikes
- Trump’s budget office ordered agencies to prepare mass firings, not furloughs
- GOP leaders: Democrats walking into “political trap”
- Jeffries: Republicans acting as “chaos agents”
- Shutdown echoes past battles in 2013 and 2018-19
- Both parties brace for public backlash if shutdown occurs
Deep Look: Jeffries Accuses Trump of Leading Nation Into Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON — September 26, 2025
As the U.S. hurtles toward a possible government shutdown next week, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is placing the blame squarely on President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans, accusing them of refusing to negotiate and risking a lapse in federal funding.
In an interview with the Associated Press Friday evening, Jeffries said Trump is failing to show the “presidential leadership” needed to avoid chaos.
“Donald Trump and Republicans are chaos agents,” Jeffries said. “At moments in time that require stable, presidential leadership, Donald Trump is incapable of providing it.”
Shutdown Looms Amid Stalled Negotiations
The federal government’s funding expires October 1, but little progress has been made toward a compromise. Earlier this week, Trump canceled a meeting with Democratic leaders, including Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, that had been expected to jump-start talks.
Meanwhile, House Republicans scrapped next week’s voting session, leaving the stalemate unresolved.
The White House has also directed federal agencies to prepare for a shutdown scenario that includes mass firings of federal workers — a harsher approach than the temporary furloughs typically used during funding gaps.
Democrats Push to Protect Health Care Subsidies
At the center of the fight are enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that were first expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year, and Democrats want them renewed as part of any short-term spending deal.
Without action, millions of Americans could see sharp increases in health insurance premiums.
Jeffries emphasized the stakes, calling the subsidies essential for “everyday Americans” struggling with health care costs.
“Donald Trump and the Republican Party are marching the country into a painful government shutdown because they do not want to address the health care crisis that they created,” Jeffries said.
Republicans counter that Democrats’ demands are unreasonable. They argue that subsidy negotiations should wait until year-end and accuse Democrats of politicizing the funding deadline.
GOP Strategy: Delay and Pressure
Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune maintain that a shutdown can still be avoided if Democrats drop their conditions. Before leaving town, House Republicans passed a stopgap measure to fund the government until November, but the Senate rejected it, as it did a Democratic-backed alternative.
Johnson admitted he personally encouraged Trump to skip this week’s meeting with Democrats, framing it as a waste of time until Congress completes the “basic governing work” of keeping the government open.
“Once they do that, then you can have a meeting with him,” Johnson said in a radio interview.
Republican leaders believe Democrats could bear political costs if a shutdown occurs, calling their position a self-made trap.
Political and Historical Context
Jeffries, who would become House Speaker if Democrats retake the majority in 2026, has emerged as his party’s chief messenger in the funding showdown. He has publicly taunted Trump for attending the Ryder Cup in New York rather than negotiating in Washington.
“Why are you at a golf event right now? And the government is four days away from closing. That’s outrageous,” Jeffries said this week.
If a shutdown occurs, it would be the third major government closure in just over a decade:
- 2013: Lasted more than two weeks during the Obama era over ACA repeal attempts.
- 2018-2019: Lasted 35 days during Trump’s first term over funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall.
Jeffries said history suggests the outcome is predictable:
“At the end of both of those shutdowns, Republicans came to the conclusion that their position was unsustainable. That’s exactly what will take place this time.”
What’s Next
With only days remaining, lawmakers face pressure from voters, federal employees, and markets to avoid disruption. Yet with Trump and Republican leaders holding firm, and Democrats refusing to back down on health care, the standoff could soon force federal agencies to shut their doors and leave millions of Americans in limbo.
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