 "House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer talk to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House, Monday, on September 29, 2025, in Washington DC, US. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP)")
Emboldened by election victories this week, Democratic congressional leaders, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have sought a bipartisan meeting with President Donald Trump to resolve the government a shutdown.
In their co-signed letter, Schumer and Jeffries dubbed it a “GOP shutdown”.
“We write to demand a bipartisan meeting of legislative leaders to end the GOP shutdown of the federal government and decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis. Democrats stand ready to meet with you face to face, anytime and anyplace,” they said.
Schumer and Jeffries concluded the letter with a jab at Trump: “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Since the onset, the Democrats have maintained that healthcare and food assistance are red lines that they will not budge on.
Under Trump-endorsed budget that he and Republicans want Democrats to accept, health insurance premiums will rise for around 24 million Americans —twice or even four times for many families— after the abolition of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and another 11.8 million Americans will lose Medicaid coverage over the next decade. Democrats have maintained that these terms are unacceptable.
‘Hold the line’: Jeffries to Senate Democrats
As Democratic leaders feel their strengthened after the whitewash against Republicans, Jeffries has told Senate Republicans to “hold the line”.
In a call with Democratic senators, Jeffries urged the Senate “to stay the course and hold the line” as the government shutdown dragged on, three people aware of the matter told Politico.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe reason behind the appeal is the belief of House Democrats that their shutdown strategy has been validated by election victories this week.
ALSO READ — Most Americans blame Trump & Republicans for govt shutdown but Democrats too face challenge: Survey
But Politico reported that bipartisan negotiations are ramping up across the Capitol and some progressives are now afraid Senate Democrats will accept a handshake deal or a vote on extending ACA subsidies in place than a firmer commitment to pass legislation. Such a move could amount a surrender for Democratic voters who have just rewarded them victories from east to west coast.
Separately, one Democratic senator told The Hill that if a small group of Democrats abandon the broader group’s position and vote to reopen the government in return for modest or even paltry concessions from Republicans, it would have a devastating effect on Democratic voters’ morale.
The senator said, “It would be hugely deflating. When your strategy, when something is working, you don’t stop.”
The senator admitted that “shutdowns are horrible” but stressed that “the solution is not to pacify the other side” — particularly as Democrats see their strategy working in election results and surveys . Even Trump has validated their approach.
After first defeats in his second term, Trump blamed the shutdown. This has apparently strengthened the resolve of Democrats that they should not give up now.
In his meeting with Senate Republicans, Trump urged them again to eliminate filibuster, a rule that requires 60 votes instead of a simple majority of 51 to pass many critical bills like a budget.