Shutdown Brinksmanship Reaches the Brink: Starting Line

Sept. 30, 2025, 10:51 AM UTC

Taking Brinksmanship to the Brink

At the end of the day, a wait for a Deal or No Deal announcement was about as useful as forcing a bunch of women in dresses and high heels to stand and hold numbered suitcases for an entire television show.

“There are still large differences between us,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) said after the highly anticipated meeting between Congressional leadership and President Donald Trump yesterday.

The two sides appear to remain at an impasse. Republicans are proposing to continue to fund the government for 7 more weeks, and Democrats are demanding extensions of health care subsidies and a reversal of Medicaid funding cuts.

The meeting did, however, put the spotlight on Trump. That focus on the White House is something that serves both parties for different reasons. Democrats want Trump to be the face of the shutdown, and Republicans want to avoid making a deal that is later blown up by the president.

Jonathan Tamari has more in today’s edition of Congress Tracker on the shutdown fight and Schumer’s role in it.

Calling All Generals

Secretary Hegseth on Capitol Hill earlier this year
Secretary Hegseth on Capitol Hill earlier this year
(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Secretary of War/Defense Pete Hegseth’s gathering of his top brass will take place today. It’ll include a message from Trump at 9 a.m. eastern, according to the White House schedule.

The meeting initially sent ripples of concern, given the scale of it, but the president has downplayed its significance.

“It’s really just a very nice meeting talking about how well we’re doing militarily, talking about being in great shape, talking about a lot of good, positive things. It’s just a good message,” Trump said in a call with NBC News on Sunday.

Good luck to anyone trying to use I-95 south of DC.

Gaza Peace Plan Gets Netanyahu Support

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday they had agreed to a 20-point plan designed to end the war in Gaza, though the prospects for peace remained unclear without the direct involvement of Hamas.

“We’re not quite finished,” Trump told reporters at the White House, standing next to Netanyahu. “We have to get Hamas, but I think they’re going to be able to do this. So now it’s time for Hamas to accept the terms of the plan that we’ve put forward today.”

The deal mandates Hamas have no role in the future of Gaza. Trump warned that “if Hamas rejects the deal” then Netanyahu would “have our full backing” to destroy the militant group.

Hamas has repeatedly rejected similar plans in the past, although this one has some new elements to it. The question is whether Hamas leaders feel sufficiently defeated and pressured to accept it. Many advocates for the Palestinians dismissed it.

Also Read: Netanyahu Tells Qatar He Regrets Strike in Call Set Up by Trump

Shutdown Watch

US Government Shutdown Looms With Trump, Democrats at Odds

The US is hurtling toward a government shutdown, with Democrats and Republicans seemingly no closer to agreeing on a plan to fund federal operations and both sides blaming each other for the stalemate.

Trump Taking Center Stage in Shutdown Fight Pleases Both Parties

Republicans and Democrats were happy to see President Donald Trump take center stage in the shutdown fight on Monday.

Vance Says US Headed for Shutdown After Talks With Democrats

Vice President JD Vance said he believes the US government is on track to shut down, seeking to pin the blame on Democrats one day before federal funding is set to lapse.

US Plans Thousands of Shutdown Furloughs But Silent on Firings

Federal agencies are preparing for a possible government shutdown with detailed plans that call for temporary furloughs but not permanent mass firings — even after the White House pressed departments to consider reductions in force as part of their contingency planning.

FDA Chief Says Agency Exempt From Government Shutdown Cuts

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the top food and drug regulator would be exempt from mass workforce firings during a government shutdown should there be one in the coming days.

‘Foggy’ US Economy Will Get Murkier Without Key Data in Shutdown

Lawmakers are careening toward a shutdown of the federal government that could deprive policymakers, business leaders and investors of critical data they need to assess the state of the US economy.

IRS to Keep Normal Operations for Five Days in Shutdown Plan

The IRS will keep up normal operations for a week if policy makers can’t reach a deal by Wednesday on funding the government, according to an agency contingency plan released Monday.

Trump’s Funding Feuds With Congress Add Strain to Shutdown Fight

Months of feuding between the White House and Congress over federal employee layoffs and withholding agency funds have turned this week’s shutdown standoff into a constitutional fight over the power of the purse.

Senators to Watch as Shutdown Blame Game Intensifies Before Vote

Several senators in both parties are worth watching as the chamber heads toward a crucial vote later today on legislation that would avert a government shutdown starting Wednesday.

Shutdown May Dampen Political Fundraising Despite Busy Calendar

The optics of raising money during a shutdown are usually enough to force cancellations or changes of the Washington and destination events that are otherwise routine for lobbyists, lawmakers, and campaign donors.

Trump to Keep Tariff Probes Running Through Government Shutdown

The Trump administration will carry ahead with investigations into certain imports during a possible government shutdown, allowing them to move forward on laying the groundwork for further tariffs.

How to Measure the Value of Public Affairs

“What’s the projected ROI? How will this initiative drive growth? Are we creating visible value for our customers?” Nneka Chiazor, head of the Public Affairs Council, has tips on proving the worth of government relations. Read More

Before You Go

$8 Gasoline: California Gov. Gavin Newsom is making a remarkable shift after leading a yearslong crusade against fossil fuels. The Golden State, which is often home to the country’s highest gasoline prices, is now staring down a potential energy crisis as the industry pulls up stakes.

Low-Hire, Low-Fire: It’s not just recent college grads who are struggling to find jobs. More than a quarter of the jobless in the US have been out of work for more than half a year. That’s the highest share since the mid-2010s, excluding the pandemic-era years.

FEMA Hacked: A hacker gained access to FEMA’s computer networks for several months this year and stole information about employees of the emergency response agency and US Customs and Border Protection employees. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem fired two FEMA employees, including multiple IT executives.

Javice Sentenced: Charlie Javice, founder of student-finance startup Frank, was sentenced to more than 7 years behind bars for defrauding JPMorgan in its $175 million acquisition of her company.

Trunk Tariffs: Trump has ordered 10% tariffs on imports of softwood timber and lumber, as well as 25% levies on kitchen cabinets, vanities and upholstered wood products, marking his latest bid to use import taxes to shore up domestic manufacturing.

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To contact the reporter on this story: Tina Davis at tdavis@bloombergindustry.com

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Rachel Leven at rleven@bloombergindustry.com; Herb Jackson at hjackson@bloombergindustry.com; Kayla Sharpe at ksharpe@bloombergindustry.com

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