President Donald Trump is set to meet with key Democratic figures, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, this week to discuss the pressing issue of government funding, with the deadline to prevent a shutdown fast approaching. The details of the meeting, including its exact timing and whether Republican congressional leaders will also participate, remain under wraps.

The urgency of these discussions is underscored by the current recess of both the House and Senate, with government funding set to expire at the stroke of midnight on September 30. The backdrop to these talks is a stark disagreement on the terms of the funding extension. Trump and his Republican allies are advocating for a "clean" seven-week continuation, whereas Democrats are proposing a four-week extension that would also address other critical issues.

The push by Democrats to attach additional demands to the stopgap funding bill has formed a significant point of contention. Specifically, they are seeking concessions on health insurance subsidies due to expire by year's end and are fighting against recent Medicaid cuts included in a GOP-led domestic policy bill. Although there is some support within Republican ranks for extending these subsidies, GOP leaders insist that this should be addressed later in the year rather than in the imminent stopgap funding bill.

This planned meeting follows a direct appeal from Schumer and Jeffries, who expressed their frustration after two unsuccessful attempts to arrange talks with GOP congressional leaders. They reached out to Trump directly via a letter last Saturday, prompting a response from the President who expressed willingness to meet but was skeptical about the potential outcomes of such discussions.

These negotiations come at a time when Democratic leaders are under considerable pressure from their base to visibly oppose Trump's agenda, especially on matters affecting health care. They hope that the looming government shutdown can be leveraged to gain favorable terms in these areas.

As the clock ticks down, all eyes will be on this critical engagement, which could shape the immediate future of U.S. government operations and have far-reaching impacts on the health care safety net. According to Punchbowl News, which first reported on the upcoming meeting, the stakes could not be higher as both parties brace for potentially impactful negotiations.

*Myah Ward contributed to this report.*