By Richard Cowan and Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican U.S. President Donald Trump will meet top Democratic leaders in Congress – Representative Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Chuck Schumer – on Thursday to discuss government funding amid a looming shutdown ahead of a September 30 funding deadline, a source familiar with the talks said on Monday.

Schumer and Jeffries on Saturday demanded a meeting with Trump to avoid a government shutdown when funding ends.

In a letter addressed to Trump, Schumer and Jeffries said on Saturday that Republican congressional leaders had repeatedly and publicly refused to engage in bipartisan negotiations to keep the government open at the direction of the president.

Healthcare is at the center of the fight over funding, with Democrats seeking m

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