WASHINGTON – Congressional Republicans introduced a short-term funding measure on Sept. 16 to keep the government open until just before Thanksgiving.

In hopes of avoiding a seemingly inevitable shutdown, the bill would largely maintain current funding levels until Nov. 21. It also would add nearly $90 million to shore up security for members of Congress, Supreme Court justices and executive branch officials in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's Sept. 10 assassination.

But the bill would do nothing to address Democrats' concerns over what they're calling a "looming health care crisis." Medicaid cuts recently enacted by Republicans and expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies are about to wreak havoc across the country, they've warned. They refuse to strike a funding deal unless those issues are addressed.

"Zero chance that we will do that," House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said of repealing Medicaid cuts. And the impending changes to "Obamacare" shouldn't be connected to a time-sensitive government funding deal, he argued, since they don't take effect until the end of this year.

Those disagreements once again raise the likelihood of a government shutdown when funding runs out Sept. 30. Leaders in both parties are already pointing fingers.

"By refusing to work with Democrats, Republicans are steering our country straight toward a shutdown," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a joint statement.

The federal government has closed down 21 times since 1977, with each shutdown averaging about eight days. The most recent one lasted for 35 days, from December 2018 to January 2019, during Donald Trump's first term as president.

Back then, negotiations broke down over disputes related to funding for Trump's border wall. This time around, Democrats say Republican leaders haven't taken any of their concerns seriously.

"Real leaders don’t do negotiation through carrier pigeons," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, who has been part of the budget talks. "They don’t outright ignore their colleagues when they ask for a meeting."

Johnson, meanwhile, said Democrats are embarking on a "fool's gambit."

"Some of them apparently believe that shutting down the government will be some sort of life raft for them so they can regain the support of the American people," he said.

Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is the government about to shut down? Republicans and Democrats far apart in talks.

Reporting by Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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