The US government might shut down soon because President Donald Trump and top Democrat Chuck Schumer can’t get along. They’re supposed to meet this week to try to work things out, but with only days left before the September 30 deadline, things don’t look good.
Trump and Schumer’s relationship has gotten much worse over the past year. They can barely work together anymore. Democrats want to keep health care subsidies that help people pay for insurance. Republicans just want a simple bill to keep the government running for seven more weeks.
The two men’s feud got really bad in August when they were trying to make a deal about Trump’s nominees. Trump got so mad that he told Schumer to “Go to hell” on Truth Social. That pretty much ended any chance of them working together back then.
Why this shutdown looks likely to happen
Democrats have said they won’t vote for the Republican plan. Schumer and his party want to extend health insurance help that costs $350 billion over ten years. They say Republicans are causing a health care crisis and they won’t back down.
Republicans say their bill is clean and simple. It only adds $30 million for keeping Congress members safe and $58 million for protecting other government officials. Trump has told Republican leaders not to even bother talking to Democrats. Earlier fights between Trump and Schumer show how fast talks can fall apart when Trump changes his mind.
Donald Trump is still in the go-to-hell mode.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 19, 2025
His marching orders to Republicans are don't even bother with Democrats.
That’s not governing.
That's a recipe for a shutdown.
Things are different now compared to March, when Schumer helped Republicans keep the government open. That made a lot of Democrats really angry at him. This time, Schumer says he won’t give in so easily. Some Democrats, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are still mad about what he did before. There are even rumors she might try to run against him in 2028.
Other problems are making things worse. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed on September 10, and this has made Trump supporters really angry. Trump is also pushing Attorney General Pam Bondi to go after his enemies like Adam Schiff and James Comey. All of this makes it even harder for the two sides to work together.
Trump told me to GO TO HELL when he sent Senate Republicans home with nothing because Senate Democrats stood strong.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 14, 2025
I’m proud of that. He can say that again, and again, and again.
From me with @AaronParnas: pic.twitter.com/4XU5sykL3a
The shutdown would affect millions of Americans who work for the government. Non-essential workers would be sent home without pay, though they usually get their money back later. Essential services like national security and law enforcement would keep running, but many other government services would stop. Trump has said he’s okay with a shutdown, telling reporters last week that “we could very well end up with a closed country for a period of time.”
Both sides are trying to blame each other for what might happen. Republicans say Democrats are being unreasonable by demanding health care money in a simple funding bill. Democrats say Trump and Republicans are the ones shutting down talks by refusing to negotiate. Schumer has said “if one side refuses to negotiate, they are the ones causing the shutdown.” With both parties digging in and no clear way out, a government shutdown looks more likely every day.
Congress isn’t even in town right now, and they won’t come back until right before the deadline. Republicans need at least seven Democrats to vote with them in the Senate, but that’s not going to happen. Unless someone gives in during this week’s White House meeting, the government will probably shut down.
