President Trump is meeting with congressional leaders to avert a potential US government shutdown, looming Wednesday. A disagreement over healthcare provisions in the spending bill has stalled negotiations. Democrats demand healthcare expansion, while Republicans prefer addressing it separately. The Senate requires 60 votes to pass spending bills, a threshold Republicans currently lack without Democratic support. Both parties are blaming each other for the impasse, with leaders trading barbs ahead of the crucial talks.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.