The Art of the Budget Deal

Today on TAP: With a government shutdown looming noon Wednesday, will Trump screw Democrats, Republicans, the public, or himself?

by Robert Kuttner September 29, 2025

After canceling an earlier planned meeting with top Democrats on government funding negotiations, Trump has agreed to meet with all four House and Senate leaders of both parties at 2 p.m. today. The meeting came after Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called Republican Leader John Thune (R-SD) and urged him to contact Trump. The meeting will also be attended by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

With Trump demanding a clean resolution to continue current funding levels and Democrats united in their refusal, backed by a Senate filibuster, there are several ways to handicap what’s coming. In one view, the Democrats have belatedly achieved some unity, resolve, and political shrewdness around a set of demands whose core is restoration of full funding for Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, as well as a commitment to no further illegal impoundments of appropriated funds.

In this view, the Democrats have split Trump from congressional Republicans, especially in swing districts, who are vulnerable to the charge of slashing government health insurance subsidies, which in turn creates premium hikes across the health care system. The Democrats have been running ads against ten vulnerable Republicans, holding them responsible for higher health care costs. A dozen House Republicans are on record opposing Medicaid cuts.

In this view, the Democrats have the stronger hand and are playing it well. They will look even better if they force Republicans to capitulate.
https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2025-09-29-art-of-budget-deal-congress-government-shutdown/