WASHINGTON — Democratic and Republican congressional leaders are heading to the with President on Monday in a late effort to avoid a government shutdown, but both sides have shown hardly from their entrenched positions.

If government funding legislation is not passed by Congress and signed by Trump on Tuesday night, many government offices across the nation will be and non-exempt federal employees will be furloughed, adding to the strain on workers and the nation's economy.

Republicans are daring Democrats to vote against legislation that would keep government funding mostly at current levels, but Democrats so far have held firm. They are using one of their few points of leverage to demand that Congress take up legislation to extend health care benefits.

“The meeting is a first step

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