WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders are scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Monday afternoon, marking the first bipartisan meeting since Trump took office in January. It’s not clear how productive it will be.
The meeting comes less than 48 hours before a shutdown is set to take place and federal funding will lapse for a slew of government agencies and programs. Republicans and Democrats have been locked in a stalemate for weeks over how to avoid a funding lapse, especially as Democratic leaders have threatened to oppose any spending deal that doesn’t contain their health care demands.
“We are ready, we are willing, we are able to find a bipartisan path forward and reaching spending agreement that actually keeps the government open, but meets the needs of the