In a bid to halt the ongoing government shutdown now entering its fourth week, top congressional Democrats have taken a proactive step by reaching out to President Donald Trump. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have extended an invitation for a crucial meeting with the President to negotiate an end to the impasse.

Speaking to reporters after a closed-door caucus lunch, Schumer expressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “We reached out to the president today and urged him to sit down and negotiate with us to resolve the health care crisis, address it and end the government shutdown.” The Democratic leaders emphasized their flexibility on the timing and location of the meeting, indicating their willingness to meet “any time, any place” before Trump’s scheduled departure for a weeklong trip to Asian countries this Friday.

The current shutdown began on October 1, following a meeting between Trump and the Democratic leaders that failed to produce an agreement. Since then, there has been a continuous call from the Democratic side for Trump to re-engage directly in negotiations. The primary point of contention includes the soon-to-expire Affordable Care Act subsidies, which Democrats are keen to secure.

On the other side of the aisle, Republicans are holding their ground, insisting that discussions about health care subsidies will only proceed once the government is reopened. This stance was reiterated during a meeting between Trump and Senate Republicans, where the President touted their unity in the funding battle.

Later on Tuesday, Republicans planned to force a 12th vote on a House-passed funding bill, which is anticipated to fail, continuing the deadlock between both parties.

As the shutdown stretches on, affecting millions of Americans and various government functions, the urgency for a resolution grows. The outcome of this proposed meeting, should it occur, could be pivotal in breaking the current gridlock and restoring full government operations.